Finger Lakes National Forest

Nestled in upstate New York, the Finger Lakes National Forest spans 16,000 acres of diverse terrain, combining lush woodlands with expansive pasture land. Encompassing woodlands, grasslands, and glacial lakes, its picturesque landscapes and well-maintained trails attract outdoor enthusiasts, offering opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The forest’s five distinctive trails wind through the scenery, revealing stunning views of gorges, waterfalls, and panoramic vistas. The forest is also home to the celebrated Finger Lakes Trail, a long-distance hiking trail extending over 580 miles. Limited free primitive and roadside camping opportunities along the roads add to the allure, providing a chance to immerse in the natural beauty for longer periods. As the only national forest in New York State, it provides a unique space for relaxation, exploration, and immersion in the captivating landscapes of the Finger Lakes region.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_Lakes_National_Forest
http://www.fs.usda.gov/fingerlakes
http://www.cnyhiking.com/FingerLakesNationalForest.htm

July 27, 2016 10 PM Update

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Gond evening! Mostly clear and 72 degrees in Burdett. Calm wind. The dew point is 60 degrees. Back at Foster Pond looking at the stars on my final night at the Finger Lakes National Forest. I was going to do some fishing but it got late, and decided to just sit down by the lake on my back. Even at ten pm, it’s really not that dark in the west for looking at the stars. In a little bit, I’ll wander back to camp and start a small fire and stay up for a while before retiring for the night. 

Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low of 67 degrees at 5am. Three degrees above normal. Light and variable wind becoming northwest around 5 mph after midnight. Maximum dew point of 60 at 10pm. The record low of 44 occurred back in 1971. Waning Crescent Moon tonight with 40% illuminated. The moon will rise around 1:20 am. The New Moon Moon is on Tuesday with partly cloudy skies expected. The Full “Strugeon” Moon is on Thursday, August 18th.

It was a fun day, swimming at Robert H Treman State Park then going to Watkins Glen for ice cream and swimming in the Watkins Glen pool. I stopped at the Watkins Glen library and checked my email and did some work on my laptop. Cooked some bratwurst for dinner. 

Tomorrow will have a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high of 83 degrees at 2pm. One degrees above normal. West wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Maximum dew point of 61 at 7am. The record high of 99 was set in 1929. The sun will rise at 5:55 am with the first light at 5:23 am, which is 1 minutes and 0 seconds later then yesterday.
0.2 inch of rain expected between Thursday 2pm and Friday 7pm. 0.1 inch of rain expected between Saturday 8pm and Sunday 7am. Within the next four days, a total of 0.3 inches of rain is expected.

Tomorrow I’m taking down camp, will hit the Watkins Glen State Park Pool briefly before heading down to Pennsylvania. Going to camp the next three nights in the Allegheny National Forest. I will miss the Finger Lakes but it’s time to move on. Plan to visit Allegany State Park and Quaker Lake for some swimming and possibly Erie PA and Presque Isle State Park on Saturday. We’ll see. 

Looking ahead, National Smores Day is in 2 weeks, Thrift Shop Day is in 3 weeks, Day When It Got Below Freezing in Albany is in 7 weeks, Yom Kippur is in 11 weeks and First Day with Temperatures Recorded Below Zero is in 18 weeks.
Thursday Night. Chance of T-storms and 65 degrees, 62 max dew point, 5:57 sunrise.
Friday. Chance of T-storms and 78 degrees, 63 max dew point, 8:29 sunset.
Friday Night. Partly Cloudy and 61 degrees, 60 max dew point, 5:58 sunrise.
Saturday. Mostly Sunny and 78 degrees, 58 max dew point, 8:28 sunset.
Saturday Night. Chance of Showers and 61 degrees, 57 max dew point, 5:59 sunrise.
Sunday. Chance of T-storms and 77 degrees, 62 max dew point, 8:27 sunset.
Sunday Night. Chance of T-storms and 61 degrees, 62 max dew point, 6:00 sunrise.
Monday. Mostly Sunny and 80 degrees, 61 max dew point, 8:26 sunset.
Monday Night. Partly Cloudy and 62 degrees, 61 max dew point, 6:01 sunrise.
Tuesday. Mostly Sunny and 84 degrees, 61 max dew point, 8:24 sunset.