Taconics

Sunset Rock in Winter

Two Saturdays ago I decided to go up for a hike at Taconic State Park. I had visited Sunset Rock last June, and decided it would be interesting to go back up there six months later in the dead of winter.

South Taconic Trail Sign

The trail up to Sunset Point is not very steep except for a few short sections. This is one of the steeper sections.

Climbing the Trail

As you head up the mountain there are some places with broken views to the south, overlook Copake Falls and further south.

Broken Views Heading Up Sunset Rock

Here is the shadow of me hiking up the mountain.

Shadow

Finally reaching the top of Sunset Rock.

Sunset Rock Sign

Here is the view off Sunset Rock. The Catskill Mountains are in the distance, somewhat shrowed in haze on this beautiful warm January day.

View off Sunset Rock

Looking off to the North from Sunset Point.

North from Sunset Rock

Here is a map of where I hiked.


View Hike to Sunset Rock at Taconic State Park in a larger map

Snowshoeing at Grafton Lakes

Last Saturday I went out snowshoeing at Grafton Lakes State Park. I wasn’t planning on going out, until I realized how truly nice it was outside. I quickly tossed my snowshoes in the pickup, packed up my pack, and off I went.

Snow Shoes

I drove out along Domain Road, past the winter entrance to the Grafton Lakes Park, and parked down along Second Pond. I didn’t realize that snowshoers/skiers could go through the winter entrance, and all the way to the beach on Long Pond. Instead, I snowshowed out along Second Lake to Long Pond. As you can see, Long Pond was not frozen.

 Shore of Long Lake

I decided to go on the trail around Long Pond. While I’ve been around Long Pond in a canoe and kyack in the summer, I’ve never been all the way around the trail in winter.

Several sections of trail would have been swampy had it been warmer. It instead was ice, in most portions thick enough, that the snowshoes crossed it without cracking through. The trail along Long Pond probably is not very good for hiking on wet times.

Icy Patch

The trail around Long Pond is signed with “More Difficult”. It is amusing to see the trail signed “More Difficult”, especially after all of the High Peaks and other mountains I’ve climbed in the Catskills and beyond. This trail is almost completely flat, bar a few rocks and roots sticking up and a few very small hills.

The far end of the lake looking due south towards the swimming beach. You can’t actually see the beach from here, because the lake turns slightly to the west from here.

Far End of Long Pond

After going around Long Pond, I headed along the Second Lake. This lake was frozen unlike the other pond. It was a bit too thin to dare cut across it.

Percent of Albany County Homeowners Who Moved in Before 1990

Here is a map of the snowshoe hike in blue.


View Hikes of 2009 in a larger map

Ascent of Stissing Mountain

The fire tower is not located at the due top of the mountain, and despite being 90' high (compared to 60' on most towers), does not have good views for about 30 degrees in the south.

Taken on Sunday November 8, 2009 at Stissing Mountain.