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.
After such a cold weekend, a very pleasant Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
Partly cloudy and 35 degrees in Delmar, NY. ⛅ Calm wind.Temperatures will drop below freezing at around 8 pm. ☃️
I think it’s been kind of a werid November 🦃 very mild and then cold and windy. After beautiful October weekends all but the first weekend of November have been rainy or cold. But today is quite nice.
Yesterday was ethics training. 🏛️ All the things government workers shouldn’t do and whether or not you can accept that Waterford Crystal bowl from your labbyist friend. I’ve been to Waterford a few times, I’m not sure why you’d want a crystal bowl 🥣 from there. Probably loaded with heavy metals from Norlite hazardous waste incinerator.
But the nice thing is that the training ended a bit before five 5⃣ so I was able to catch the earlier express bus 🚍 home. It was an electric bus⚡which was super quiet when we were stuck in rush hour traffic. Remarkably hot two, they had the electric heat pumps really cranked up. And so was the Capitol where I had my ethics training.
Warmer this week than crapping out after Thanksgiving ☀ 🦃 🌧️
Rain not snow but I still was hoping to get out of town this weekend for a few days post turkey day. I might still take off the first half of next week, depending on the weather trends come later in the week. The following weekend I am leading the Pine Bush Hike, and then I might have Jury Duty after that, so this is probably my best hope to get out of town for the weekend. But a lot can change in 5-6 days.
Today. Feels like … December 9th.
Sunny.
South wind 5 to 15 mph.
and
40 degrees
,12 max wind chill,
4:29 sunset.
Tonight. Feels like … November 30th.
Partly cloudy.
South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight.
and
27 degrees
,
6:54 sunrise.
Tuesday. Feels like … November 28th.
Mostly sunny.
Light and variable wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
and
44 degrees
,
4:29 sunset.
Tuesday Night. Feels like … December 3rd.
Partly cloudy.
Light south wind.
and
26 degrees
,
6:55 sunrise.
Wednesday. Feels like … November 23rd.
Mostly sunny.
Light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning.
and
46 degrees
,
4:28 sunset.
Wednesday Night. Feels like … November 30th.
Partly cloudy.
and
27 degrees
,
6:56 sunrise.
Thanksgiving Day. Feels like … November 23rd.
Mostly sunny.
and
46 degrees
,
4:27 sunset.
Thursday Night. Feels like … November 13th.
Mostly cloudy.
and
32 degrees
,
6:57 sunrise.
Friday. Feels like … November 16th.
A chance of rain and snow showers before 8am, then rain showers likely. Cloudy.
Only a three day work week with Thanksgiving coming up. Kind of an odd year, Election Day was late and Thanksgiving early.
Mostly sunny and 19 degrees in Delmar, NY. ☀ There is a south breeze at 5 mph. 🍃. There is a dusting of snow on the ground. ☃ Things will start to thaw out at around 11 am. 🌡️
It might be cold ❄ on the thermometer but without much wind 🍃 it feels nice. Walking 🚶 at six fifty this morning because it’s dark earlier and I felt like having breakfast 🥣 first. Traffic is a lot heavier this hour, though probably less then it would be if it wasn’t the week before Thanksgiving.
Yesterday was kind of a cold one. ♨️ I actually got kind of chilled through at home in the morning. I probably shouldn’t have left the heat at 50 degrees, with the wind whipping around outside. I tried to fix the air leaks around my door the best I could but my apartment kind of sucks. It’s cheap and I don’t like spending much on heat. I do like that electric blanket and look forward to some point when I have cabin with a wood stove. Always trying to save a little extra money, with inflation and the markets being down so much. 📉
I went out and visited Mom and Dad and we had a nice pot of chilli for lunch. 🥘 It was a good meal with things being so cold. Then I went home, and did some more reading and put my clothes away before going out for my morning walk.
Regardless, I enjoyed my quiet walk out on Saturday to Five Rivers 🚶♀️ and that trail behind the Mansions in Delmar. The Fisher Trail is a different way to get out there, a few additional steps and there is sidewalks, which is nice, except for getting run-over by the yuppie joggers. I hope the greater accessibility of Five Rivers to the suburbanite developments doesn’t mean it becomes over-run by the joggers and families with screaming babies like Albany County Rail Trail.
No record breaking snow here like they have had out in Orchard Park. I remember seeing the rail crossing style gates on the Expressway Entrances in Western NY and thinking how novel they were – new at the time but good when the expressways are closed and blocked with snow.
Warming up mid weekend for Thanksgiving and then rain and snow next weekend when I was hoping to get up north. At some point I guess I’ll get out of town again. The following weekend I have the Pine Bush Hike. No idea how much snow will be up north I’ll have to study the maps more.
Today. Feels like …
December 9th.
Mostly sunny.
South wind around 7 mph.
and
40 degrees
,
4:31
sunset.
Tonight. Feels like …
December 21st.
Partly cloudy.
Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph after midnight.
and
21 degrees
,
6:51
sunrise.
Sunday. Feels like …
December 22nd.
A chance of snow showers, mainly after noon. Partly sunny.
Breezy, with a west wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
and
36 degrees
,14 max wind chill,
4:30
sunset.
Sunday Night. Feels like …
December 29th.
A slight chance of snow showers before 1am. Partly cloudy.
West wind 8 to 13 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
and
19 degrees
,12 max wind chill,
6:53
sunrise.
Monday. Feels like …
December 3rd.
Mostly sunny.
South wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 12 to 17 mph in the afternoon.
It’s a remarkably chilly day for opening day of rifle season but that’s to be expected. Autumn was mild until it wasn’t.
Mostly sunny and 36 degrees at the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center. ☀ There is a south breeze at 7 mph. 🍃. Temperatures will drop below freezing at around 5 pm. ☃️
I decided it would be a good day to explore the new Fisher Trail at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center 🚶 and also the Phillipin Kill Preserve along Fisher Boulevard. Pretty much what you would expect from a suburbanite nature preserve. I had never bothered to visit the Phillipin Kill Preserve before as I knew it wasn’t much but a swamp and a ridge but it was on the way. 🐦 Some nice benches there, might be good for birch watching in the spring and autumn. Fisher Trail is similar, thought it might be good for skiing 🎿 until the sign saying, 15 percent grade ahead. Only had to duck 🦆 out of the way of suburbanite joggers 🏃 a few times.
My ankle is pretty much good 🦶 though it’s still a little sore especially when I put weight on it funny or I am hiking up a steep uphill. But I’m fine, I’ll probably hike ten 🔟 miles after everything today. I know people say rest, but I think it’s sometimes best to keep muscles moving and not let them seize up. Maybe it’s Lyme again, been a bit sore lately. 😕
But then come Saturday, there will be a steady wind that will make it feel really cold. We’ll have to think about windchill again. But alas it won’t be that cold as the day goes on, getting up to 39 degrees under ample sun.
Today. Feels like … December 9th.
A slight chance of rain and snow showers after 4pm. Partly sunny.
Southwest wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
and
40 degrees
,
4:31 sunset.
Tonight. Feels like … December 21st.
A slight chance of snow showers before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear.
Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
and
21 degrees
,13 max wind chill,
6:50 sunrise.
Saturday. Feels like … December 12th.
Sunny.
South wind around 7 mph.
and
39 degrees
,13 max wind chill,
4:31 sunset.
Saturday Night. Feels like … December 14th.
Mostly cloudy.
South wind around 7 mph.
and
23 degrees
,14 max wind chill,
6:51 sunrise.
Sunday. Feels like … December 22nd.
A chance of snow showers, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny.
Breezy, with a west wind 14 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Yesterday, I twisted my ankle a bit but I’m feeling better this morning but I skipped my evening walk and early morning walk. But since getting in on the bus, I have walked a mile and are feeling better. I replaced the boot laces on my boot and laced up the boots tight and things are getting better.
Mostly cloudy and 32 degrees in Delmar, NY. ☁ There is a southwest breeze at 11 mph. 🍃. The skies will clear around 7 am.
Yesterday I got my steps in 👣 even after my ankle started bothering me mid-day. Somehow I managed to twist my ankle at my desk. But I got in more then 12,000 steps, taking a midday walk and limping my way home. It is feeling largely better now though with the tightly laced boots, I managed to get in a mile plus walking around the plaza. But I am taking it carefully but I want to also get the 10,000 steps in today. But I don’t want to do at the cost of potentially spraining my ankle. 🦶
Other then that I basically went home, had dinner 🍽 and went to bed pretty early 💤 as I wasn’t going to do a lot of walking, and just was hoping things would heal up and feel better by morning. So far so good. I am going to try to get in a few miles walking at lunch time, and then take it from there. Kind of sucks because walking is something I enjoy doing, and getting my steps in but I’ll do the best I can do. If it’s bad this weekend, I will rest up my foot but I’m not going to rush to doctor, as it’s not that painful or sore at this point.
