Balsam Swamp is a sprawling state forest that stretches almost 5.5 miles east-west across 4 towns. The area is very rural, and the landscape surrounding the State Forest is predominantly forested. Balsam Swamp State Forest is comprised of a mix of native hardwood forests, hemlock swamps, and conifer plantations. There are no designated recreational trails on the forest, but there is ample opportunity for self-guided day hikes to explore the diversity of habitats represented on this State Forest. Additionally, the western section of Balsam Swamp State Forest is adjacent to Five Streams State Forest to the south.
The main attraction of this forest is Balsam Pond. The impoundment is approximately 152 acres and is a popular destination for fishing and paddle boat sports. Balsam Pond is a warm water fishery that contains a mix of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, brown bullhead and sunfish. Tiger muskellunge have been stocked in the past with the last stocking occurring in 1995. However, there have been very few reports of anglers catching any of the adult tiger muskies. A shallow gravel boat launch is suitable for launching small fishing boats.
A small rustic camp ground is also located at Balsam Pond. Camping spaces are available at no cost on a first-come, first-serve basis and there is no running water or electricity. A fire ring, outhouse, and picnic table are provided for each camping space. A sign on Balsam-Tyler Road in Pharsalia designates the entrance to the boat launch and camping facility. This is a carry-in carry-out facility. Please do not litter.
Plus I figured I’m bicycling to and from work so that I ought to count for something. The mornings are so dark now, plus post 6:45 the roads around the high school are filled with smoldering cars as the kids sit in there early along the road to get parking. Also I was busy doing a lot of cooking, especially with the quinoa, which the first morning before their cooked take a fair amount of time, between washing them good and clean and then boiling them down ont he stone.
Good morning! Happy Tuesday. Partly sunny and 59 degrees in Delmar, NY. 🌅 There is a west breeze at 8 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 54 degrees.
Going to be a nice morning for a ride to work. 🚲 Then I’ll do the stairs. Hopping on the pumpkin 🎃 spice craze, I had the quinoa with pumpkin and no sugar but some added chia seeds. I did a much better job cleaning the quinoa this time, which kept them from being too bitter. Last night I made walnut butter in the food processor and that was delicious on home made wheat bread 🍞 that I cooked in the morning. It was good.
Today will have a slight chance of showers between 11am and noon. Mostly sunny 🌞, with a high of 66 degrees at 2pm. Seven degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around October 5th. Maximum dew point of 56 at 3pm. West wind 8 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies in the morning, which became thunderstorm by afternoon. It was humid. The high last year was 81 degrees. The record high of 90 was set in 1946.
This evening I’ll probably walk 🚶 down to the library 📚 to return books and maybe get some new ones out plus do a least some steps. Maybe an evening walk but truth be told I’d rather just retire to bed early. 🛏 Got some salmon out of the freezer, going to have with baked apples, butternut squash, mashed sweet potato and spinach. Should he a good dinner but will be dark by the time I’m done with it. The days of going down to the park after work have come and gone.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:50 pm with sun having an altitude of 48.9° from the due south horizon (-21.9° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 5.2 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 6:23 pm with the sun in the west (267°). 📸 The sunset is in the west (273°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 7:00 pm after setting for 2 minutes and 54 seconds with dusk around 7:27 pm, which is one minute and 47 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the First Quarter 🌓 Moon in the southwest (225°) at an altitude of 13° from the horizon, 239,238 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 8:02 pm. At sunset, look for mostly clear skies 🌄 and temperatures around 61 degrees. The dew point will be 52 degrees. There will be a west-northwest breeze at 13 mph. Today will have 12 hours and 22 minutes of daytime, a decrease of 2 minutes and 51 seconds over yesterday.
Yesterday I had to run to the store to get contact solution 👀 and ended up getting some sweet potatoes, avocados, frozen squash and melon, along with walnuts, the later which I used to make some walnut butter in the food processor. I thought about doing another try at the bread I made in the morning, which came out a bit flat but I might wait until tonight to knead up some more dough.
Tonight will be mostly clear 🌃, with a low of 48 degrees at 4am. Three degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around September 27th. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph. In 2022, we had mostly clear skies in the evening, which became light rain by the early hours of the morning. It was somewhat humid. It got down to 59 degrees. The record low of 30 occurred back in 1979.
Weekend is looking pretty nice. 😎 Saturday, partly sunny, with a high near 70. Maximum dew point of 55 at 12pm. Sunday, a chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Maximum dew point of 59 at 1pm. Typical average high for the weekend is 72 degrees.
I am not sure if I will head out of town, 🏕 🚲 as the models suggest different things, but if it’s nice, the Adirondacks are always a good option. That said, if I wait another week, it might be closer to peak color. That said, I told Mom and Dad, I’d take them on a trip to Speculator later this month, so maybe that will be the weekend to do it. It’s a day trip, so I could always just take a day off from work too do it. I need to use up some time, before it gets cold out, so I should plan some more trips. Thinking the week after Columbus Day Weekend for a trip out to the Finger Lakes, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and/or Allegheny National Forest. At least that’s the general direction I’m leaning towards. So many options, so little time. Otherwise, the fall back is the Nature Bus to Thacher Park. Always the most affordable option.
One month 📅 from now will be Average High is 60 🍂 when the sun will be setting at 6:08 pm with dusk at 6:36 pm. The average high temperature is 34 degrees, with a record high of 61 in 1895.
1920 – A bomb exploded outside the J.P. Morgan & Co. bank headquarters in New York City. The explosion killed 38 people and injured hundreds more in what is known as the Wall Street bombing, a tragic act of terrorism.
2001 – The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) reopened for trading after being closed for four days following the September 11th terrorist attacks. This marked a significant moment in the recovery and resilience of the financial markets in the wake of the attacks.
2011 – The Occupy Wall Street movement began in New York City’s Zuccotti Park. This protest movement, which spread to other cities and countries, aimed to address issues related to income inequality, corporate influence, and economic injustice.
2018 – The Governors Island Climate Summit took place in New York City. This summit brought together leaders from around the world to discuss climate change and its impacts, coinciding with the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco.
That’s kind of just the nature of the beast got to pick and choose which adventures to take, noting that some trips in November wouldn’t be a bad thing – such as a Stoney Pond State Forest and Madison County trip before rifle season and the snow.
Good morning! Rain and 59 degrees in Delmar, NY. ☔ Calm wind. The dew point is 57 degrees. A half inch of rain is expected before it ends tomorrow around 6 am.
Another dark morning 🧑🍳 baking bread 🍞 and making up rice, lentils and black beans 🍲 for the upcoming week. Mom has butternut squash for dinner with chicken and now I’m thinking I got to get some of that from the farmers market or grocery store as it’s so good. The weekend is over but I’m dreaming of future trips. But maybe not next weekend, as it looks kind of rainy. Too bad it couldn’t rain on the weekdays next weekend like it is raining this Monday.
Back to work on the earlier local bus 🚍 as it’s rainy day ☔ and I’m going to walk laps in the Plaza before climbing the stairs and getting down to work. Still working downtown for the time being , to wet to ride to work. The rest of the week though looks good for riding to and from work though depending on the final weekend forecast I might take off Friday and maybe Monday to head out of town but where is to be decided. So many dreams of future trips, as soon as I got back from Rensselarville State Forest.
Today will have showers likely, mainly before 3pm. Cloudy 🌦, with a high of 64 degrees at 1pm. 10 degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around October 9th. Maximum dew point of 62 at 3pm. Calm wind becoming north around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. A year ago, we had partly cloudy skies in the morning, which became light rain by afternoon. It became sticky as the day progressed. The high last year was 80 degrees. The record high of 91 was set in 1891.
Midday I will have to walk up to Market 32 🛒 to get contact solution as I’m out. And maybe a few other things for my pantry though I’m pretty much set. Hopefully it won’t be raining too hard midday. Worse comes to worse I can bike 🚲 over to Hannaford after work or I guess drive. But I’d rather avoid that if possible.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:51 pm with sun having an altitude of 49.3° from the due south horizon (-21.5° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 5.2 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 6:25 pm with the sun in the west (267°). 📸 The sunset is in the west (274°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 7:02 pm after setting for 2 minutes and 54 seconds with dusk around 7:28 pm, which is one minute and 47 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the Waxing Crescent 🌒 Moon in the west-southwest (237°) at an altitude of 10° from the horizon, 242,172 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 8:04 pm. At sunset, look for rain 🌧 and temperatures around 62 degrees. The dew point will be 59 degrees. There will be a north-northwest breeze at 6 mph. Today will have 12 hours and 25 minutes of daytime, a decrease of 2 minutes and 51 seconds over yesterday.
Tonight will have a chance of showers, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy 🌧, with a low of 56 degrees at 5am. Five degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical night around September 8th. Maximum dew point of 60 at 6pm. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. In 2022, we had light rain in the evening, which became mostly clear by the early hours of the morning. It was sticky. It got down to 63 degrees. The record low of 32 occurred back in 1959.
Waiting and watching the weekend forecast. 😕 I don’t think this early in the week it’s set in stone. Saturday, partly sunny, with a high near 72. Maximum dew point of 56 at 11am. Sunday, a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Maximum dew point of 60 at 11am. Typical average high for the weekend is 72 degrees.
Looking ahead, there are 8 weeks until Average Night is Below Freezing 🌌 when the sun will be setting at 4:36 pm with dusk at 5:05 pm (Standard Time). On that day in 2022, we had partly cloudy and temperatures between 49 and 36 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 50 degrees. We hit a record high of 69 back in 1964. I’ll have to once again fix the air leaks around my door 🚪 and get out the little space heater and electric blanket. But hopefully not for a while.
Free stuff or the dumpster is the choice that seems all to often to be put forward to me.
It was the end of the work picnic and there was a bunch of left overs including several unopened boxes of oatmeal and macadamia nut cookies. I was told they’re going into the dumpster if I didn’t take them. I guess they were right.
I’m sure they were delicious cookies now buried in the landfill with tons of other garbage. But I just didn’t want to bring them home, lest I feel the pressure to eat them before they went stale, loaded with tons of sugar, calories and saturated fats. I am so over those days in my thirties and twenties when I was chubby – and my body shouldn’t be the world’s garbage disposal. I guess the empty calories would have saved me on groceries and they would have tasted good but whatever.
Honestly, if I had been smart I would have grab them, taken them into the office the next day for people less health conscience or just wanting a single cookie. But I was worried about the temptation to eat them over night, and honestly wasn’t thinking that far advance about tomorrow and sharing in the office, after the hottest day of the summer, drinking beer and cooking burgers and sweet corn over charcoal and camp grill. Maybe I should have been.
Same thing happened the next day with the left over hot dogs and burgers that were saved from the picnic. They offered them to everybody and they had a ton of uncooked burgers they were giving away. While I will occasionally eat a burger like the one I had at the picnic, I didn’t want a freezer full of red meat loaded with saturated fats. Maybe I should have taken some home and froze the meat for future use but I did not.
It’s not my job to save the world from waste. I rarely waste food at home, it’s rare I have spoiled food as I will cut off soft parts and even mold for compost. But I’m no longer stuffing my face at receptions and events I go to prevent food waste. I do my part in my own life but I can’t control the bad wasteful practices of others and I’m not going to ruin my health just to avoid waste. Free isn’t free if it’s cost is your health.
The ruffled grouse, often referred to as the partridge, is a medium-sized game bird native to North America. Its name, “ruffled,” aptly describes its appearance, characterized by a tuft of feathers on its neck that can be raised and fanned out during displays of courtship or when the bird feels threatened. These grouse are renowned for their remarkable camouflage, allowing them to blend seamlessly into their woodland habitats. They are primarily found in mature forests with a mix of hardwoods, conifers, and dense underbrush, as these environments offer them protection, food, and suitable nesting sites.
Ruffled grouse are omnivorous birds with a varied diet. They consume plant matter such as berries, buds, leaves, and seeds, as well as insects and small invertebrates. They are most active during the day and spend their time foraging on the forest floor. Their unique drumming display during the breeding season, produced by beating their wings against the air, is an auditory spectacle that resonates through the woods and is integral to their courtship ritual.
The ruffled grouse serves as a symbol of New York State’s natural beauty and biodiversity. Their existence is closely tied to the health of our forests, making their conservation essential. Through restoration efforts, like those undertaken by the CCC during the 1930s, and ongoing initiatives focused on sustainable forestry and habitat preservation, we can ensure that future generations have the opportunity to appreciate the unique charm of the ruffled grouse in New York State’s woodlands.
It was nice to get away for two nights, only a quick trip from home. Not a lot of gas or costs which is good plus some great views, chances to ride and walk in the woods.
Good morning! Mostly sunny ☀ and 52 degrees at the Rensselaerville State Forest. There is a west-northwest breeze at 8 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 49 degrees.
Nice morning today 🌅 but a bit chilly. But it’s the second half of September and I’m in the high country of Albany County so it’s to be expected. Didn’t run out of propane which became a concern yesterday when I noticed the tank was getting light and it’s been about ten nights in the woods since filling the tank on vacation, though many did not involve using the heater much.
Today will have increasing clouds ☀ ➡ ☁, with a high of 65 degrees at 4pm. Nine degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around October 7th. Maximum dew point of 51 at 10am. West wind around 8 mph. A year ago, we had cloudy skies in the morning with more sun in the afternoon. The high last year was 72 degrees. The record high of 89 was set in 1942.
Taking camp ⛺ down relatively early 🕒 as I’m thinking about exploring Huyck Preserve 🐸 for a while before going to the folks house 🏡 early to pick apples 🍏 and Sunday dinner. 🍠🍗 Going to be rain ☔ by evening and I don’t want to get home that late with the earlier sunsets.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:52 pm with sun having an altitude of 49.8° from the due south horizon (-21.1° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 5.1 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. Autumn is rapidly approaching. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 6:28 pm with the sun in the west (268°). 📸 The sunset is in the west (274°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 7:05 pm after setting for 2 minutes and 54 seconds with dusk around 7:31 pm, which is one minute and 47 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the Waxing Crescent 🌒 Moon in the west-southwest (249°) at an altitude of 6° from the horizon, 244,955 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 8:07 pm. At sunset, look for rain 🌧 and temperatures around 60 degrees. The dew point will be 51 degrees. There will be a calm wind. Today will have 12 hours and 27 minutes of daytime, a decrease of 2 minutes and 51 seconds over yesterday.
Yesterday was a somewhat slow day and by midday I was a bit cold 🥶 so I retreated to my truck cap, took a nap and watched YouTube. 📹 Then the sun came out and warmed up a bit, wind which was roaring slowed and went for a ride to the Hillicross Parcel 🏞 then around some of the dirt roads and haul roads 🚲 at the State Forest. Then came back, fried up some potatoes, spinach, snap peas and salmon 🐠 then went for a hike through the woods to the hill overlooking Camp Cass. Came back had a nice fire 🔥 until around ten. Very starry ✨ night, saw two shooting stars before retiring to bed around ten. With the breeze I kept the fire small as it was a rather sparky evening. Not worried about a grass fire but didn’t like all the sparks heading towards my truck for obvious reasons.
Tonight will have showers, mainly after 10pm. 🌧 Low of 53 degrees at 1am. One degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around September 19th. Maximum dew point of 53 at 1am. 🏖️ Light and variable wind becoming east around 6 mph in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. In 2022, we had partly cloudy skies. It became humid as the night progressed. It got down to 62 degrees. The record low of 35 occurred back in 1986.
I was hoping to get up to the Adirondacks next weekend for a long one, ⛺ but we’ll see with the weather. I doubt there is much color change yet 🍂 and as of now the long range for next weekend isn’t all that great. But September weekends are rapidly expiring and October is quickly coming. As of now I’m thinking of possibly taking a week the third week of October but things could change.
Looking ahead, there are 2 weeks until October 🎃 when the sun will be setting at 6:40 pm with dusk at 7:07 pm. Happens so quickly. On that day in 2022, we had partly sunny and temperatures between 69 and 46 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 68 degrees. We hit a record high of 90 back in 1927.
New York State now requires you to pay $2.50 and fill out a lengthy form and wait for a background check to buy ammunition. Just to make it as much of a taxing, pain in the ass process as possible for gun owners and hunters.
Most people whenever they can will certainly be planning to buy ammunition the next time they travel out of state to Pennsylvania or Vermont where you can buy ammo just by picking it off the shelf and going to the cash register and paying, most likely depriving state businesses and county and state tax revenues. Technically if you plan to use the ammunition in state your supposed to remit the sales tax to the state but few will.
How could it have been done better? For one, the process could have been automated and the fee waved. Most gun owners have drivers licenses or at least non-driver ids. Those could be scanned and an instant background check using a computer without paperwork implemented. There is no need for a fee, the cost of a database lookup is deminis and at any rate, reducing gun violence is a public purpose and there is no reason why a prohibited purchasers database couldn’t be maintained solely out of general funds.
The whole process would be a lot less objectionable had it been fully automated and free for ammunition purchasers. Maybe it could be pared tightly with the DEC DECALS system so that when you bought ammunition they could also sell you hunting and fishing licenses – or if your license was expired or soon to be expired, they could sell you a new license.
