John Boyd Thacher State Park

John Boyd Thacher State Park, is situated along the Helderberg Escarpment, one of the richest fossil-bearing formations in the world. Even as it safeguards six miles of limestone cliff-face, rock-strewn slopes, woodland and open fields, the park provides a marvelous panorama of the Hudson-Mohawk Valleys and the Adirondack and Green Mountains. The park has volleyball courts, playgrounds, ball fields and numerous picnic areas with nine reservable shelters. Interpretive programs are offered year-round, including guided tours of the famous Indian Ladder Trail. There are over 25 additional miles of trails for summer hiking and mountain biking, and winter cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, and snowmobiling.

http://nysparks.com/parks/128/

I was surprised that the autumn festival wasn’t this week at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center πŸ‚

I was surprised that the autumn festival wasn’t this week at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center πŸ‚

Some how I thought it was but I guess it was last weekend. I know the Environmental Education lady the other week gave me a copy of the flier which I looked at briefly before throwing in the trash with the rest of the burnables who fate is self explanatory.

I kind of wanted to check it out so I could pick the brains of some of the government workers there about various conservation topics and wildlife questions I had. But I’m glad their weren’t the throngs of children there with the pandemic plus I was running late and time was tight to catch the bus to Thacher Park.

Thacher Park is beautiful and since I got to the undeveloped OSI Parcel it’s quite quiet. Wasn’t so clear earlier but since the fog fully burned off its quite nice. Lot of haze earlier but it’s clearer now. The colors are just starting but the temperature is perfect, the woods filled with the smells and sounds of autumn.

Trails are really muddy especially in the OSI Parcel and the pond is flooded by that’s to be expected due to the shallow ground and the couple inches of rain we got last week. Two thirds of the year muck boots are recommended for that parcel. You know, cattle exercise yard kind of sloppy.

I’ll take the 4:40 back to Five Rivers and spend some time there but I got to watch the clock as the sun sets early and I need to get home before it’s dark walking along the shoulder of NY 443.