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.
Been walking around the old Wheeler Watson Cementary up at Huyck Preserve 🪦
It’s in terrible state of disrepair, abandoned, forgotten long ago as most of the grave stones date back to the 1840s – which was a 180 years ago. Many of the markers are broken, most being simple locally harvested blue stone although some are marble.
It has to have been a much simpler life back then. Far less government influence and regulations. There were probably far fewer police officers and no speed traps, people probably did pretty much whatever they wanted in the backwoods. If people had any idea of what happened in Washington DC, by the time they got the news it was weeks old.
People, especially the many farm families up this way had to be quite self reliant. There simply weren’t all the synthetic materials of today, not to say that they weren’t already using many toxic substances carelessly – they were. Forests by then certainly were being overcut, land abused by farming and tillage, forests over hunted and left denuded.
Historical sites often glamorize the colonial times, paintings give them a romantic image. Colonial people where hardly conservationists, and they were pretty violent both to nature and their fellow human beings. But there also was a simplicity and a local culture lost in the era of motoring and cheap, quickly discarded plastic from China.
I am glad I brought my rain coat because it’s going to be pouring later. At least real mild. I am going to have to drive to get my flu and COVID-booster tonight, as it will not be a nice evening. 💉 Probably work from home on Friday. 💻 Weekend looks nice, particularly Saturday. I am heading over Mr. Wolcott’s new place in Colonie then doing an evening hike in the Albany Pine Bush. 🌲 Hopefully will be relatively quiet weekend work wise, but only time will show. 👨💻
Today. Feels like … September 30th.
A chance of showers, mainly after noon. The rain could be heavy at times. Cloudy.
Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
and
68 degrees
,62 max dew point,
6:17 sunset.
Tonight. Feels like … September 17th.
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 4am, then showers likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 52. Southeast wind 9 to 14 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
and
52 degrees
,
7:05 sunrise.
Friday. Feels like … October 7th.
A chance of showers, mainly before 7am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny.
Northwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
and
65 degrees
,52 max dew point,
6:16 sunset.
Friday Night. Feels like … October 12th.
Mostly clear.
Light and variable wind.
and
42 degrees
,
7:07 sunrise.
Saturday. Feels like … October 3rd.
Sunny.
Light south wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.
Another dark morning as I try to get as many steps in as possible before work. It’s just one of those mild October days that turns into heavy rain as it progresses.
Cloudy, breezy and 59 degrees at the Empire State Plaza as the storm blows in. 🍃 There is a south-southeast breeze at 10 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 57 degrees. The skies will clear tomorrow around 8 am.
Yesterday I got my steps in 👣 though Tuesday I came up a bit short as I didn’t do my morning walk and I was stuck in the dungeon, but Wednesday was a beautiful day for getting in as many steps as possible.
I think I picked a terrible evening to get my COVID-19 bi-valiant booster and flu shot. 💉 I guess I’ll drive to the pharmacy ⚕ rather than walk there. it’s fine but I’d rather walk. Regardless I need groceries. 🏬
Tomorrow I think I will work from home 👨💻 in case I feel sick or sore from the flu vaccine. Looks like it will be a nice afternoon so I might either drive to the library and work from truck or out on the picnic table. That said, many things I can do just using my phone.
I think we need a constitutional amendment that prohibits all levels of government from charging user fees.💰
By banning user fees, then government would get out of the business of providing services best offered by the private sector. Without user fees, all services offered by the government would be free and available to the public without discrimination.
Private corporations should be in the business of selling products and services. The government in contrast should be in the business of serving the people.
Patchy fog between 9am and 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny.
Light south wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.
and
70 degrees
,50 max dew point,
6:19 sunset.
Tonight. Feels like … September 9th.
Mostly cloudy.
South wind 9 to 14 mph.
and
55 degrees
,
7:04 sunrise.
Thursday. Feels like … September 28th.
Showers likely, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy.
Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
and
69 degrees
,60 max dew point,
6:18 sunset.
Thursday Night. Feels like … September 19th.
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then rain and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of showers after 2am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 51. South wind 11 to 16 mph becoming northeast 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
and
51 degrees
,
7:06 sunrise.
Friday. Feels like … October 7th.
A chance of showers before 8am. Mostly sunny.
Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
