The hills around here are much different from the Catskills up North and East from here, they remind me a lot of the Palisade Mountains north of New York City.
Taken on Sunday August 29, 2010 at Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest.A list of peaks on state land shown in the Open Street Map along with coordinates for Department of Environmental Conservation Regions 1 through 4 excluding the Catskill Park. These peaks are in the Heldebergs, Taconics, Hudson Highlands, Shawgunks and hills outside of the Catskill Park.
| Peak Name | Elevation in Feet | State Land | Class | UMP | Region | County | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flanders Hill | 230 | David A. Sarnoff Preserve | North Atlantic | 1 | Suffolk | 40.8745441, -72.6045377 |
| Peak Name | Elevation in Feet | State Land | Class | UMP | Region | County | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depot Hill | 1305 | Depot Hill Multiple Use Area | Lower New England East | 3 | Dutchess | 41.5753714, -73.6751291 |
| Big Buck Mountain | 1115 | Big Buck Mountain Multiple Use Area | Lower New England East | 3 | Putnam | 41.4948155, -73.7165195 | |
| California Hill | 1178 | California Hill State Forest | Lower New England East | 3 | Putnam | 41.4373157, -73.7762439 | |
| Castle Rock | 626 | Castle Rock Unique Area | Lower New England East | 3 | Putnam | 41.367316, -73.935416 | |
| Cranberry Mountain | 1233 | Cranberry Mountain WMA | Cranberry Mountain Hmp | 3 | Putnam | 41.5037049, -73.5626259 | |
| Nimham Mount | 1273 | Nimham Mountain Multiple Use Area | Lower New England East | 3 | Putnam | 41.461407, -73.7250815 | |
| Pigeon Hill | Bashakill WMA | 3 | Sullivan | 41.538532, -74.5191017 | |||
| Unnamed Peak | 1414 | Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest | Shawangunk Ridge | 3 | Sullivan | 41.5944736, -74.4385778 |
| Peak Name | Elevation in Feet | State Land | Class | UMP | Region | County | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan Hill | 649 | Stewart State Forest | West Of Hudson | 3 | Orange | 41.4912049, -74.1423678 | |
| Sloop Hill | 128 | Kowawese Unique Area | West Of Hudson | 3 | Orange | 41.4584271, -74.0156961 |
| Peak Name | Elevation in Feet | State Land | Class | UMP | Region | County | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blodget Hill | 1145 | Louise E. Keir WMA | Louise E. Keir Hmp | 4 | Albany | 42.5150798, -73.8954045 | |
| Henry Hill | 2162 | Partridge Run WMA | Partridge Run Hmp | 4 | Albany | 42.5495213, -74.1979138 |
| Peak Name | Elevation in Feet | State Land | Class | UMP | Region | County | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jensen Hill | 1683 | Hancock Fp Detached Parcel | Wild Forest | 4 | Delaware | 41.8670322, -75.1543365 | |
| Kenyon Mountain | 2988 | Plattekill State Forest | East Branch | 4 | Delaware | 42.2938395, -74.6382349 | |
| McGregor Mountain | 3191 | Stamford Fp Detached Parcel | Wild Forest | 4 | Delaware | 42.3900808, -74.5790396 | |
| Murphy Hill | 2306 | Murphy Hill State Forest | East Branch | 4 | Delaware | 42.1311981, -74.8676606 | |
| Pine Hill | 2007 | Pine Hill State Forest | Treaty Line | 4 | Delaware | 42.2823038, -75.3435096 | |
| Plattekill Mountain | 3267 | Plattekill State Forest | East Branch | 4 | Delaware | 42.2667522, -74.6482102 | |
| Round Top | 3067 | Plattekill State Forest | East Branch | 4 | Delaware | 42.2714741, -74.6832109 |
| Peak Name | Elevation in Feet | State Land | Class | UMP | Region | County | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beebe Hill | 1758 | Beebe Hill Multiple Use Area | Taconic Highlands | 4 | Columbia | 42.3359195, -73.485113 | |
| Pinnacle Point | 1952 | Harvey Mountain State Forest | Taconic Highlands | 4 | Columbia | 42.3103647, -73.4434453 |
| Peak Name | Elevation in Feet | State Land | Class | UMP | Region | County | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bald Mountain | 2483 | Taconic Ridge State Forest | Taconic Highlands | 4 | Rensselaer | 42.7648012, -73.2837205 | |
| Berlin Mountain | 2798 | Taconic Ridge State Forest | Taconic Highlands | 4 | Rensselaer | 42.6920245, -73.2862195 | |
| Berlin Mountain | 2795 | Taconic Ridge State Forest | Taconic Highlands | 4 | Rensselaer | 42.6917468, -73.2856639 | |
| Misery Mountain | 2601 | Taconic Ridge State Forest | Taconic Highlands | 4 | Rensselaer | 42.6184144, -73.3176081 | |
| Mount Raimer | 2572 | Taconic Ridge State Forest | Taconic Highlands | 4 | Rensselaer | 42.7161908, -73.2837199 | |
| White Rock | 2542 | Taconic Ridge State Forest | Taconic Highlands | 4 | Rensselaer | 42.753968, -73.2803869 |
Looking through the burned section of Pitch Pine forest with the Northern Catskills and some low hills in the distant.
Taken on Sunday September 29, 2019 at Notes.
The text of today’s fodder is based on the Catskill Park State Lands Master Plan, as revised in 2008. Maps were rendered by myself, using Quantum GIS and DEC Lands and Forests data.
(Formerly Big Indian – Beaverkill Range Wilderness Area)
This wilderness is located in the Towns of Hardenburgh, Denning and Shandaken in Ulster County. It lies generally west of Oliverea and the Frost Valley Road, south of Belleayre Ski Center, east of Seager and Hardenburgh and north of Willowemoc and Claryville. The area ranges in width from 1 to 5 miles, is about 19 miles long and contains approximately 33,500 acres of land. Elevations range from 1,500 feet in McKenley Hollow to 3,840 feet where the state boundary crosses Doubletop Mountain. The mountains in the northeastern portion of the area are quite rugged, while those to the south and west are more characteristic of high hills. Water from the area flows into three New York City water supply reservoirs and the Delaware River Basin. Nine mountains or ridges with elevations of over 3000 feet make up the area.
Peaks
Doubletop* 3,860′
Haynes 3,420′
Big Indian 3,700′
Spruce 3,380′
Fir 3,620′
Eagle 3,600′
Hemlock 3,240′
Balsam* 3,600′
Beaver Kill Range 3,377′
* Maximum elevations given are not necessarily located within the Wilderness Area.
The forest cover is predominantly hardwood mixtures in various associations. Spruce and fir, while present at some of the higher elevations, are less noticeable here than in other Catskill wilderness areas.
Interior facilities consisting of foot trails and lean-tos are generally considered adequate.
Area statistics:
Approximate Area 33,500 Acres
Roads (non conforming) 1.4 Miles
Foot Trails 29.4 Miles
Lean-tos 6
Designated Campsites 5
Parking Lots 5
Public Use (visitors/year) 4,500
Exterior Boundary Line 67 Miles
Minimum Elevation 1,500′
Maximum Elevation 3,840′
Non-conforming uses:
Motor vehicle use of Black Bear Road from the wilderness boundary to Fall Brook Lean-to.
A UMP for this area was completed in June of 1993.
(Formerly West Kill – North Dome Wilderness, Ox Clove Wild Forest, and a portion of the former Hunter Mountain Wild Forest)
The unit generally lies within the following boundaries: New York State Route 42 on the west, the Shandakan Wild Forest and NYS Route 28 to the south, and NYS Route 214 on the east. The northern extent of the unit is County Route 6, and continues along a line 100′ parallel to, and south or east of, the edge of Spruceton trailhead parking area and the centerline of the Spruceton Truck Trail, to the junction of the Colonel’s Chair Trail. A corridor, 100 feet either side of the center line of the Spruceton Truck Trail, from the Colonel’s Chair Trail to the summit of Hunter Mountain, culminating in a circle 175′ in radius from the center of the chimney on the observer’s cabin shall be within the Rusk Mountain Wild Forest.
The unit contains approximately 27,000 acres of land, and inside it’s boundaries are found the named mountain peaks of Balsam, Sherrill, North Dome, West Kill, Sheridan, Hunter and Southwest Hunter. Hunter Mountain is the second highest peak in the Catskills at 4,040 feet, and portions of it’s summit, along with a fairly extensive area on the summits of West Kill, North Dome and Sherrill Mountains are within the Catskill High Peaks Bird Conservation Area, and are of special significance in that they provide habitat for high elevation spruce-fir inhabitants such as Bicknell’s Thrush and the Blackpoll Warbler, among others.
There are currently two lean-to’s on the unit, the Diamond Notch lean-to located just off the Diamond Notch Trail, and the Devil’s Acre Lean-to off of the Devil’s Path Trail. Waters from this unit drain into Schoharie and Esopus Creeks and then into the Schoharie and Ashokan Reservoirs, which are in the New York City water supply system.
Area statistics:
Approximate Area 27,000 Acres
Foot Trails 18 Miles
Lean-to’s 2
Parking Lots 5
Minimum Elevation 920′ Maximum Elevation 4,040′
(Formerly Plateau Mountain – Indian Head Mountain Wilderness Area)
This wilderness is located in the Town of Hunter, Greene County and the Towns of Saugerties and Woodstock, Ulster County. It lies generally west of the east boundary of the Catskill Park, south of Platte Clove, east of Devil’s Tombstone Campground and north of Lake Hill and Shady. The area ranges from 1 ½ miles to 3 ½ miles in width, is eight miles long and contains approximately 16,800 acres.
Elevations range from 900 to 3840 feet and the four major mountains in the area are visible against the skyline from all directions. Echo Lake, the only natural lake in a Catskill wilderness, is located in the east-central portion of the area. Water from this eastern section flows into the Kingston and Saugerties water supply reservoirs, while drainage from the central and western section flows into two New York City water supply reservoirs. Six named mountain peaks over 3,000 feet in elevation dominate the area.
Peaks
Plateau 3,840′
Indian Head 3,573′
Sugarloaf 3,800′
Olderbark 3,440′
Twin 3,640′
Plattekill 3,100′
The forest cover varies from extensive oak stands on the eastern most slopes to mature spruce-fir on top of Plateau Mountain. An excellent mature stand of northern hardwood and hemlock occupies the slopes south of the Saw Kill.
Echo Lake, unique to the Catskill wilderness, is very popular for undeveloped camping. A small number of scattered primitive tent sites with fire rings have been established and public camping is limited to their capacities.
Public access is provided by several foot trails entering the area, including the old road from Meads to Overlook Mountain.
Area statistics:
Approximate Area 16,800 Acres
Roads 6.6 Miles
Foot Trails 24.1 Miles
Cross-country Ski Trails 5.6
Lean-tos 3
Designated Campsites 10
Parking Lots 1
Public Use (visitors/year) 8,000
Length of Boundary 33 Miles
Minimum Elevation 900′
Maximum Elevation 3,840′
A UMP for this area was completed in October of 1992.
(Formerly Slide Mountain – Panther Mountain Wilderness Area)
This wilderness is located in the towns of Shandaken, Denning and Olive in Ulster County. It lies generally south of NYS Route 28, west of West Shokan, north of the Peekamoose Road (County Route 42) and east of the Frost Valley Road (County Route 47). It surrounds the Woodland Valley Campground and abuts the Sundown Wild Forest to its south. This area ranges from 1 to 10 miles in width, is about 13 miles long, and contains approximately 47,500 acres of land. The wilderness boundary is 118 miles long.
The terrain is rugged and steep with elevations ranging from 1,100 to 4,180 feet. All water draining from the area eventually reaches three New York City water supply reservoirs by way of the East and West Branches of the Neversink River, Rondout Creek and Esopus Creek. Twelve named mountain peaks with elevations over 3000 feet exist in the area. Of these, six may still be considered trail-less to the extent that they have no marked and maintained trails.
Peaks with Trails
Slide 4,180′
Peekamoose 3,843′
Cornell 3,860′
Wittenberg 3,780′
Table 3,847′
Panther 3,720′
Trail-less Peaks
Lone 3,721′
Rocky 3,508′
Friday 3,694′
Van Wyck 3,206′
Wildcat 3,340′
Balsam Cap 3,623′
The forest cover consists of nearly every possible mixture and association of hardwood and softwood trees native to the mountain region. While hardwoods predominate higher elevations are often covered with red spruce and balsam fir.
This area receives more public use than any other Catskill wilderness. Superb vistas are found on Slide, Wittenberg, Cornell, Giant Ledge and Panther Mountains. Access via foot trails is available from the north, south, east and west.
Area statistics:
Approximate Area 47,500 Acres
Foot Trails 35.3 Miles
Lean-tos 3
Parking Lots 10
Designated Campsites 29
Public Use (visitors/year) 23,000
Length of Boundary 118 Miles
Minimum Elevation 1,100′
Maximum Elevation 4,180′
A UMP for this area was completed in March of 1987 and revised in October of 1998.
(Formerly Blackhead Range, and North Mountain Wild Forests, and portions of Windham High Peak, and Black Dome Valley Wild Forests)
The combination of these Wild Forest areas creates the Windham – Blackhead Range Wilderness Area, which lies within the Greene County towns of Cairo, Hunter, Jewett, Windham and Durham. The classification of these former Wild Forest areas was changed to Wilderness because their combined area comprises approximately 17,100 acres and contains rugged, high elevation land that clearly exhibits wilderness character. This newly classified area has seven named mountain peaks over 3,000 feet in elevation.
They are:
Peaks Black Dome 3,980′
Windham High Pk 3,520′
Blackhead 3,940′
Stoppel Point 3,420′
Thomas Cole 3,940′
Burnt Knob 3,180′
Acra Point 3,100′
The unit also contains six unnamed peaks over 3,000 feet, which range from 3,040 feet to 3,540 feet in elevation. Of the five highest peaks in the Catskills, three – Black Dome, Thomas Cole and Blackhead – are in this unit. This concentration of 13 peaks over 3,000 feet, within an area of approximately 28 square miles, with limited access, structures and improvements (30 miles of maintained foot trails and two lean-to’s) make the Windham – Blackhead Range Unit an area with excellent wilderness character.
A fairly extensive area of old growth forest can be found on this unit at the higher elevations, along the ridge stretching from an area west of Thomas Cole Mountain to Blackhead Mountain, and on Windham High Peak. The presence of this old growth forest, with its distinctive flora and fauna, add to the wilderness character of the unit. The unit also includes the headwaters of the Batavia Kill and, to the south over the Blackhead Range, the headwaters of the East Kill. Both of these rivers flow into Schoharie Creek, and are an integral part of the New York City Watershed system.
The western boundary of this unit shall be the east side of the Elm Ridge Trail, Black Dome Trail leaving it within the Elm Ridge Wild Forest, continuing north along the drainage to the Catskill Park boundary. The southern boundary of the unit shall be the Escarpment Trail approximately one half mile south of Stoppel Point to a point on the Escarpment Trail where it comes closest to the eastern Forest Preserve boundary. Both North Point and Stoppel Point will be within the Wilderness area. Lands to the south of the south edge of the Escarpment Trail in this area, will be in the Kaaterskill Wild Forest.
Because the Windham – Blackhead Range Wilderness surrounds the smaller Colgate Lake Wild Forest Unit, and because they are linked together by public use, the Unit Management Plans for the two units shall be contained in one document.
Area statistics:
Approximate Area 18,0000 Acres
Foot Trails 30 Miles
Lean-tos 2
Parking Lots 1
Minimum Elevation 980′
Maximum Elevation 3,980′
While this was less then the 63 nights I did in 2020, with remote work winding down and more in-person meetings and events happening in Albany, I ended up not getting out as much as I did the previous year. Still 37 nights camping is still a lot of time in wilderness.
It was a lot rainier then some summers, so that also made it harder to get out of town for long weekends. When I did go camping, and I wasn’t remote working, I tried to make it a priority to find more-remote areas without cell service, so I could get solitude without the constant buzz of the phone. Plus I tended to stay in one campsite for two or three days, to avoid the hassles of taking down and setting up camp.
I started out my travels in late April on the East Branch Sacandaga River along NY 8, near Fox Lair. On Saturday, before arriving to camp, I hiked along Hope Falls Road and back to lower and upper Tenant Creek Falls. Sunday, I hiked around Fox Lair, sat down by the river for a while, did some fishing. Had a big ol’ fire. It was cold but also kind of spring-like.
Monday I drove up to Speculator to do remote work at the library and the town park/beach with my laptop. I set up camp at Campsite 17 and in the evening after work, I hiked along Old NY Route 8B, spending some time along Austin Falls and heading back to camp before it got too dark. Tuesday I worked up in Speculator, before heading home. Things were still very brown and gray in the Adirondacks, although I ended up stopping along the Mohawk River in Rotterdam and hiking on the bike trail before dark, and it was much greener down there.
Thursday morning I got up early and drove up to Speculator before 9 AM to work remotely. I worked until lunch time in Spectulator when I drove down to Campsite 17 and set up camp and worked from there. Worked all day on Friday from camp, mostly sending emails from the hammock although I also edited a report I was working on with my laptop at the table, and grabbed some files a colleague needed off the server over the VPN. Knocked over the lantern, smashing the glass and breaking the the neck on it. On Saturday I hiked back along Robb Mill Road and some of the side trails in the Conservation Easement. Sunday, I drove up to Watch Hill on Indian Lake, hiked that, while there was a constant threat of thunderstorms, so I did it fairly quickly.
After hiking Watch Hill I ended up camping at Mason Lake. I also spent some time walking around the Indian Lake/Lewey Campground, just seeing what was there I was hoping being a Sunday I could get a campsite near Mason Lakke, but no such luck. Ended up camping at Campsite 5, a ways from the lake, although in the evening I did walk down to the lake. I did have cell service where I was camping, but it was spotty, so come Monday morning, I headed back to Speculator for work. The black flies were bad camping there, until well after dark I spent most of the afternoon hiding under the screen tent. In the morning, once the sun was up and the tent was down, I was booking out there because the black flies were intense.
Junteenth Weekend, a new state holiday. Piseco-Powley Road was rebuilt, and I spent a lot of time down at the swimming hole there. I was working remote on Thursday, but I left home after work and drove north before dusk. Spent a lot of time cooling off in East Branch by the campsite, laying in the hammock and relaxing. Saturday I spent kayaking at Lily Lake, but none of the lilies were out. Sunday I spent the balance of the day the potholers.
After quite a run of rainy weather, we had part of weekend that wasn’t super wet. Also, many weeks in the summer, I preferred to just stay close to home, and catch the Nature Bus and spend Saturdays exploring Thacher Park for free. Friday was a personal day – I had a eye doctors appointment. Then I went north and set up camp at Hope Falls Road. Saturday, I hiked back to Ferris Lake and Tenant Creek Falls. Sunday, partially in the rain, I hiked back to both lower and upper Tenant Creek Falls. Sunday evening back at camp, it absolutely poured. I was originally planning to work remote on Monday and maybe Tuesday in Speculator but the weather was so wet, I decided against that.
Heading out to the Finger Lakes, I overnighted at Cherry Ridge at Charles Baker State Forest in Madison County. It was a stop over after leaving home after work. Noticed how much sway there was in front end of the truck, and the tires were getting loud as they were warn and cupped, grew concerned that I might have issues later on. Eventually in December I replaced the tires, the worn rear shock bushing. and bad sway links. I was dealing with some real anxiety issues at that point. But I had a little fire, then retired early to bed and then took camp down early in the morning and headed west to Montezuma Wildlife Refuge and the state Audubon Preserve.
I knew arriving at the Finger Lakes National Forest on a Saturday would mean many campsites would be taken, including the site I wanted. I ended up tent camping at one of the primitive sites off Potomac Road. It was a one night deal as I prefer camping in the truck shell and I saw the people in the campsite I wanted leave, so I quickly grabbed that campsite in the morning. Ended up breaking one of the elastic straps in one of the tent poles, I still need to repair it.
My summer vacation was the Finger Lakes National Forest. I decided to stick close to camp for much summer vacation, not rushing too much from place to place, spending a lot of afternoons at the Watkins Glen Pool, doing some paddling in Seneca Lake and Cayuta Lake, hiking in Texas Hollow and Sugar Hill State Forests. Did a lot of reading and laying back in the hammock. The campsite I stayed at didn’t have cell service, so it gave me a much needed to respite from the internet for a few days. Had some nice fires, drank some beer, and got away from it all.
After summer vacation, I decided to take a long weekend — four days — up to Potholers, namely the House Pond campsite with lots of sweet corn, clams and beer. I can still taste the clams and beer, and I had plenty of them to eat over the weekend — they were breakfast, lunch and diner. But it was nice laying back in the hammock and swimming in the swimming hole by that campsite. I also hiked along old Edick Road and to Edick Road Campsite 1, which is way off from the main road, and then down to the ledge. Hiked back to House Pond, which was difficult as there was a lot of blow down from a storm earlier in the summer. Spent much of Sunday at the Potholers and then watched the sun set from the Kane Mountain Firetower. Didn’t bring the kayak this time.
With another warm week ahead, I decided to take off Friday and Monday off for one more week up at House Pond. This time I spent more time at Potholers, walking up there each afternoon, besides spending a lot of time at the swimming hole near this campsite. Did some fishing up House Pond, and a lot of drinking and reading from the hammock. Read yet another book about writing code in Python and Kristen Kimbell’s Dirty Life about farm life. I bought a large truck intertube for floating, but once I got to camp and started to setting up I realized I didn’t have an air pump with me, so I couldn’t use it while camping.
Friday, September 3rd was the final day of remote work – Labor Day Weekend. I got up early, drove to Speculator before 9 AM. I started working from Speculator Library but with my phone having hotspot service and cell service, mid-day I drove up to Hardwood Hill. This time I made sure to inflate my intertube before heading up north, and I spent Saturday evening until well after dusk floating in the Jessup River off of Jessup River. Then I drove to Sled Harbor after dark, hoping to catch a glimpse the illuminated Wakely Hill Firetower, but I could not see it as it I couldn’t find the good views of the tower from the road after dark.
Decided to do a weekend trip out to Schoharie County to hike the Catskill Scenic Trail south of Grand Gorge through the deep notch where NY 30 runs. Hiked down to Hubbell’s Corners from Grand Gorge then went for a very cold swim at Mine Kill State Park. Mine Kill pool was open late this year due to opening late at the beginning of summer. Water temperature was 58 degrees. Sunday I also went for a quick swim at Mine Kill Pool again. Still very cold.
On September 18th, I drove up to Piseco-Powley Road to camp for three nights, four days. Spent one night at the House Pond Campsite, which I set up in the pouring rain, and spent time floating in the my new rubber intertube. It was a nice day once he rain stopped but the water was very cold. But it was nice laying back in the hammock that evening, although prior to dusk there was a lot of deer flies around and biting.
On Sunday afternoon I drove further up Piseco-Powley Road to Powley Place to do some camping and paddling on the East Canada Creek. Monday I hiked back to Goldstream Falls then carried my kayak down to the East Canada Creek and paddled down to the first rapids, portaged past that to the second main rapids. The beaver dams were relatively low this time, due to water levels being higher then other times when I’ve paddled the East Canada Creek. Laid back in the hammock, did some reading and looking out over the campsite on these mild, starry nights. Also did some floating down the East Canada Creek
I took off the Friday before Columbus Day Weekend to hike Bear Pen Mountain in the Western Catskills. It was the start to a very colorful weekend. Betty Brook was nice, but it was good I got there relatively early — around 4 PM on Friday as the other campsites were quickly taken. On Saturday, I drove down to Stamford and hiked more of the Catskill Scenic Trail from Stamford for Bloomville then visited a friend in Summit. Sunday I hiked along Betty Brook Road to the snowmobile trail up Burnt Hill, then hiked over the dirt roads on Burnt and Rossman Hills, enjoying the leaves and wildlife. Hiked back to camp and laid back into the hammock well into the evening, which was quite mild. Sunday I hiked from Grand Gorge to Stamford on the Catskill Scenic Trail.
Originally I was planning to get new tires put on my truck prior to going to West Virginia, trip that was postponed multiple times. Ultimately I decided it wouldn’t be a bad idea to just wear out the tires and go for the trip. I hadn’t decided on where I was going to go until I was on the road, and ended up going to Binghamton, then down to Pennsylvania for my first night camping. It was a cold first night — got down to 14 degrees.
The first two nights I spent at Camp Run Primitive Campground at Miles, West Virginia which is located in a wash on the backside of Shenandoah Mountain. On Monday of that week I hiked up over Shenandoah Mountain, and watched the sun rise over Camp Run Lake. Tuesday morning I drove over through Judy Gap then up Spruce Mountain and hiked up that. In the afternoon I hiked up Seneca Rocks, something that had long been on my bucket list to do.
On Tuesday night I camped up in Canaan Heights / Table Rock outside of Thomas WV. I was going to stay multiple days but hearing a lot of wheel bearing noise in my truck, I decided it best to head north on Wednesday and see if I could either make it home or get the truck fixed. The wheel bearing burned up by the time I got up to Lock Haven but was able to get it fixed that day and head north to County Bridge.
The second time camping at County Bridge it wasn’t as cold. I had a fire and retired to bed fairly early. But come the morning, neither the camp stove or the heater was working. I thought I might have have run out of propane. Then packed up in the morning on Veterans Day and headed north to Chenango Forks State Park, which I wanted to explore. I then stopped at Price Chopper, got some groceries and headed up to Long Pond State Forest for two kind of cold and chilly, damp nights.
After spending the balance of Veterans Day, Thursday at Chenango Forks State Park, I camped for two nights at Long Pond State Forest. I was still having problems with my camp stove and heater, so it was kind of cold but I was able to find enough firewood to make do, and had some quiet evenings listening to the radio and just hanging out. Friday was pretty rainy, but I made due — beat having going back home. The fires were smokey but they were warm enough. And it beat being home.
I thought about getting out of town after Thanksgiving but the weather did not cooperate. Then my truck’s repairs and tires got dragged out to mid-December. I decided to take he week off before Christmas to go camping. I was thinking about Central New York and then the Finger Lakes, but ultimately made it no farther then the Finger Lakes. Saturday was pouring rain, and then Sunday was bitterly cold. And my camp heater and stove were malfunctioning. But ultimately I was able to get it working, after much fiddling at camp. I camped two nights at Stoney Pond, spending Tuesday poking around Cazenovia. Tuesday was very gray, and Wednesday was snowy. Wednesday I drove to Hamilton and hiked part of the Chenango Canal Trail.
My final night camping in 2021 was the Moscow Hill Assembly Area at the Charles Baker State Forest. I decided to camp there as it was more sheltered from the wind and snow, and in case we got more snow, I figured I wouldn’t have to worry about the snow, as the county highway isn’t that far away. They were expecting high winds and low windchills, but it turned out not to be too bad. I thought about staying another night on Thursday, but the weather for Thursday looked sunny, and wanted to do some hiking, plus I wanted to be home for Christmas Eve for a family Christmas Party.
Good afternoon! Happy National Nude Day. Partly sunny and 79 degrees at the Mine Kill State Park. Not nude here but wearing my bathing suit as I swim. There is a west-northwest breeze at 14 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 58 degrees. This is a nice day with lots of sun but the breeze is a bit chilly when you get out of the pool. But I guess that is to be expected, it’s often cool here in the foot hills of the Catskills.
It’s been a nice weekend in this vacationatte of sorts, and overnight trip to Schoharie County, ⛺ although I ended up drinking, well getting over served, 🍻 beer and shots with the other camper down at the big campsite on the Betty Brook. But it was a fun night hanging out with some cool people from Jefferson who are converting an old school bus 🚍 to a camper using junked RV components. Small town life must be fun.
After hanging out with them until quarter to midnight I built a small fire to burn some camp garbage and just to have a fire 🔥 I could have brought it home but fire is more fun, watching as the paper blackened and the wrappers melted. Cracked open yet another beer 🍺 and then laid back in my hammock until 1:30 am listening to a podcast, probably dozing off until a rain shower came through. 💦 The fake lightening bugs were neat although not as pretty as up at Moose River Plains.
This morning was a slow one, as I was a little bit hung over, 😩 after the previous evening. Plus I left my propane tank home, so I had to build a fire, get good coals to make coffee ☕ and eggs for breakfast, but a campfire breakfast 🍳 sure is good when your hung over. I got to do more campfire breakfast on vacation, maybe with charcoal as that’s easier to light then building a fire every time. I also spent some time swinging back and forth on the most nice of mornings in the hammock. Departed camp at noon 🕛.
Today I hiked up Vromans Nose 👃 and stopped for a few pictures. Also visited Looking Glass Pond 🎣 but did no fishing as I was running late. Got blueberries and cherries 🍒 at Boreingers, got sweet corn 🌽 at Max Shauls, and ice cream 🍦 at the restaurant at Fultonham. And now I’m swimming 🏊 at Mine Kill State Park.
Tonight will be mostly clear 🌃, with a low of 53 degrees at 4am. Nine degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around June 5th. Maximum dew point of 57 at 7pm. Northwest wind 8 to 13 mph becoming light in the evening. In 2018, we had partly cloudy skies. It was sticky. It got down to 72 degrees. The record low of 44 occurred back in 1950.
The sun will set at 8:33 pm with dusk around 9:07 pm, which is 36 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌇 At sunset, look for mostly clear skies 🌄 and temperatures around 71 degrees. The dew point will be 56 degrees. There will be a northwest breeze at 11 mph. Today will have 14 hours and 59 minutes of daytime, an increase of one minute and 25 seconds over yesterday.
Tomorrow will be sunny 🌞, with a high of 79 degrees at 3pm. Four degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around June 21st. Maximum dew point of 58 at 6pm. Calm wind becoming northwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning. A year ago, we had partly cloudy skies in the morning with some clearing in the afternoon. It became sticky as the day progressed. The high last year was 93 degrees. The record high of 96 was set in 1997.
On this day in 1969, the $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 bills are officially withdrawn from circulation. After this date, if you wanted to buy a large purchase in cash, you needed a lot of hundred dollars in bills. 💵 Or just use a credit card or a bank check. 💳 They had last been printed in 1945, and were finally dropped from circulation in 1969, in part as an effort to reduce corruption and money scams.💰👿
One month 📅 from now the Altamont Fair Opens 🎡 when the sun will be setting at 8:00 pm with dusk at 8:30 pm. They say that all good things must end some day, autumn leaves must fall. 🍁🍂 But first fair season.
Good afternoon! Happy Daylight Savings Time. 🌇 I hope you you remembered to set your clocks 🕒 an hour later, spring ahead. Cloudy, damp and 35 degrees in Delmar. ☁ I think we are probably done with the snow for the day. There is a south-southeast breeze at 14 mph. 🍃. There are 4.5 inches of snow on the ground. ☃ ️Temperatures will drop below freezing at tomorrow around 11 pm. ☃️
The time ⌚ has changed. Definitely looking forward to the longer evenings. Now the snow just has to melt and things need to warm up so I can go down to the park after work. 📔Yeah this morning was darker but really not that bad although you could make the case with the clouds ☁ it was a fairly dark morning. I made it a priority though to get to bed earlier 💤and get up early in the morning so I’m on that schedule going forward. Plus I didn’t want to sleep in all day as I have a lot to do today.
This afternoon will rain and sleet likely, becoming all rain after 1pm. Cloudy 🌧, with a high of 41 degrees at 4pm. One degrees below normal, which is similiar to a typical day around March 9th. Southeast wind 13 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. A year ago, we had cloudy in the morning, which became mostly sunny by afternoon. The high last year was 38 degrees. The record high of 72 was set in 1977. 5.7 inches of snow fell back in 1964.❄
Talking the bus downtown 🚍 to go over to John Wolcott’s house 🏡 to keep going over his files. I thought 💭 driving there and then washing my truck but the turn over to rain happened too late and the roads are still covered with salt. The weekend buses are quick and I enjoy a little walk.
The sun will set at 6:56 pm with dusk around 7:24 pm, which is one hour, one minute and 8 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At sunset, look for rain 🌧 and temperatures around 38 degrees. There will be a south breeze at 8 mph. Today will have 11 hours and 41 minutes of daytime, an increase of 2 minutes and 46 seconds over yesterday.
Tonight will have a chance of rain showers, possibly mixing with snow after 10pm, then gradually ending. Mostly cloudy 🌧, with a low of 33 degrees at 5am. Nine degrees above normal, which is similiar to a typical night around April 3rd. My heating bills appreciate that fact. 😁South wind 7 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected. In 2018, we had mostly clear in the evening, which became cloudy by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 28 degrees. The record low of -10 occurred back in 1939.
Tomorrow will have a slight chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy 🌦, with a high of 46 degrees at 3pm. Four degrees above normal, which is similiar to a typical day around March 19th. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the morning. Going to pretty mild but the breeze could make it feel cooler with the melting snow. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. A year ago, we had cloudy in the morning, which became mostly sunny by afternoon. The high last year was 36 degrees. The record high of 70 was set in 1977. 4.1 inches of snow fell back in 1941.❄
Today in 1969, in Memphis, Tennessee, James Earl Ray pleads guilty to assassinating Martin Luther King, Jr. He later unsuccessfully attempts to recant.😳 Fifty years ago today. What a jerk, such different times although I don’t think Americans are any less angry 😡 today. Progress fifty years later isn’t that great.
It was definitely nice spending time up in Clarksville then Partridge Run yesterday.🎿I really miss getting out of town and spending time in the country – the last big trip I took was out to Madison County right before New Years Eve.🌲🐮 I will definitely be doing some more traveling and nights 🌃 out in the wilderness come a few more weeks. I liked seeing the cows along the Bennett Hill Trail and especially the hills and remote country around Huntersland. I’d love 😍 to live out in an area like that eventually but not in New York State.
I didn’t get that much of a sun burn although I picked up a bit of a tan. 😎 Some parts skiing 🎿 were more difficult than others only fell twice, I can be a bit of a klutz on the skis if I’m not careful. 😳 Some places the snow was a bit difficult to go through, other areas were quite nice. I thought about going to the Catskills today, maybe North South Lake but I was happy to explore a part of Partridge Run I hadn’t been in a while.
This year I want to explore and see more different places. I’m really getting bored with always going to the same places all the time. ⛺ I know there are many options, I just got to think about them more. 💭 I’m starting to think maybe in the autumn to go down to Southern Ohio.
So far next Saturday looks fairly decent. 😍 Saturday, scattered showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Sunday, Typical average high is 44 degrees. Finally a break from the cold and snow but that could change.
Next Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day 🀼when the sun will be setting at 7:04 pm with dusk at 7:32 pm. On that day in 2018, we had mostly sunny, snow showers and temperatures between 38 and 15 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 45 degrees. We hit a record high of 75 back in 1990.
In four weeks on April 7 the sun will be setting at 7:28 pm,🌄 which is 32 minutes and 20 seconds later then today. In 2018 on that day, we had cold, partly sunny, snow showers and temperatures between 40 and 25 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 55 and 34 degrees. The record high of 87 degrees was set back in 2010.
Looking ahead, St. Patrick’s Day 🍀 is in 1 week, 7:30 PM Sunset 🌇 is in 4 weeks, Palm Sunday 🌴 is in 5 weeks, Easter 🐰 is in 6 weeks, Cinco de Mayo 🤠 is in 8 weeks, Mothers Day 👩 is in 9 weeks and Fathers Day 👨 is in 14 weeks.
