Search Results for “photo fire 4 ” | Page 132

Camping at Betty Brook

I left work about 3:30 on Friday to go camping out at Burnt Rossman State Forest. It was a nice evening out the first night, warm and comfortable. I sat up under the moonlight until 1 AM, listening to the radio, reading, and watching the flames flicker in the campfire. I had my florescent lamp hooked up to my pickup, and the music going loud. But there was nobody around, so it didn’t really matter.

The weather was not as clear on Saturday. I went for drive out west, ending up outside of Cooperstown in a very rural, but mountainous area called the Burlington Flats off Route 51. Interesting little area, that reminded much of the other portions of the Central Leatherstocking regions, particularly a similiar area along US 20 in the area of Winsfield. Beautiful country for sure, but without much economic activity.

When I returned back to Burnt-Rossman State Forest I went for a little hike wandering through the woods. I ended up visiting a campsite I had previously stayed at. Apparently I passed by some turkey hunters, and didn’t realize it, until I started back and heard them shooting. I decided to take the road mostly back for my own safety.

It started to rain about 7 PM, and it eventually put out the campfire. I sat under the cap of my pickup, with a book and read until 11 PM at night, when I decided it was time for lights out. It was a noisy night, sleeping under the fiberglass cap with the rain pounding down on it. The next morning I was damp and tired, so I left around 6 AM, got on I-88 and was home by 7 AM. It was a nice experience.

Here is a map of where I hiked:

View View Hike at Betty Brook in a larger map

First Night in the Bed

Notes on the Re-Run for Friday, May 4th.

— Andy

This is a re-run from April 27, 2009, camping out at my parents house last year. This past weekend I put the cap on my truck, and look forward to the spring.

— Andy

Last night was the first night of the year I spent sleeping out in the bed of my pickup truck. I have the cap on, the sleeping pads and bags back in, an it was a delightful 75 degrees out last night. The weather was amazing, the stars where great, and I built a big campfire in the back field a ways from my parents house.

I had forgotten the wonders of the night. Sitting out and listening to the spring peepers and creek flowing by. Watching the flames flicker in the campfire. Swatting the black flies. Wandering around the field, looking at the stars and the distant city lights. Tossing stones over the creek bank into the stream 10 feet below.

As the fire burned on, I took off my clothes in the warm springtime eve air. I hopped in the creek, illuminated by the campfire. It was so refreshing after a warm summer day, and it cleared my thoughts. I could hear the owl in the distance, and the water bubbling down and over the rocks. It was so wonderful. I got out of the creek, and up the bank, and quickly dried off with the warm air.

I sat and listened to some old Gunsmoke radio programs I had downloaded to my Mp3 player and on my truck’s radio. The hours ticked by and the moon rose. It was almost 1 AM when I climbed in the bed of my truck, turned out the florescent lead lamp, slammed shut the tailgate and went to bed. I looked up through the back window of the truck cap at the stars and closed my eyes to sounds of the crickets.

Morning came, and I awoke with the hot sun beating down on my truck cap. It certainly was bright and beautiful out. I heard the neighbor’s cows mooing to be milked, and the occasional neigh of sheep and squeal of geese and hogs. Morning had arrived once again. I folded up my sleeping bag and moved things from the cab of my truck back to the bed, fired up the truck, and off I went on this beautiful warm spring morning.

Harvey Mountain

I hiked about 6 miles west to Harvey Mountain from Beebe Hill, a hill top with nice southerly views. The trail was well marked, but the section between Osmer Road (CR 5) and NY Route 22 had some serious blow down and was less traveled. Also the section of blue trail from Route 22 to where it met the red trail had extensive blow down from last year’s ice storm, which made for slow hiking.

Arriving at Harvey Mountain, the southernly views where good, and there where minimal north-western views. I was underwhelmed by Harvey Mountain, although it’s not untypical for what you see in the Taconics. The hot glaring sun made it difficult to get good pictures, and I was hot.

I hiked out to the Massachusetts state line marker, which you get to about a 1/8 of a mile from the top of Harvey Mountain on an unmarked trail.

I lost my cellphone on the way out there, and did not find it on the way back. Another hiker did find it and mailed it back. I didn’t get back to my truck until 5:45 PM, in a large part because the 6 miles of trail each way where a lot of climbing over downed brush, which slowed me down.

See more photos from this hike in the Taconics Photos Series.

Hikers – Bartlet Pond Parking Area
Blue Trail – Beebe Hill to Harvey Mountain Trail
Tent – Beebe Hill Leanto
Flag – Beebe Hill Fire Tower
Bubble – Harvey Mountain; State Line

View Beebe Hill – Harvey Mountain Trail in a larger map

Hunter Mountain via Mink Hollow

On Friday I hiked up Hunter Mountain, the second tallest peak in the Catskills at 4040′ elevation above sea level. From the trail head you clime 2020′ feet in elevation, about doubling your height, but it’s not that bad when you consider the climb is over 2.5 miles via the Becker Hollow Trail.

It was a beautiful sunny day, although I was well aware that rain was expected by afternoon. I had gotten a late start, not reaching the trail head until about 9:30 AM. It was quite hot going up, in part because there was little shade to hide out under.

The first part of the trail was relatively modest, but it quickly got steeper. It didn’t seem that bad, but I could feel the elevation, and with the sun it was quite warm. I took frequent breaks, stopping for lunch, pictures, water, and just to cool down, especially where I could find shade under the pine trees.

Around 3500 elevation marker, the trail headed south and got snowy and icy. It was a steeper hike, but not any worst then any other of the Catskill peaks. Then the yellow trail split off the blue trail, and it was a 1/4 mile up to the fire tower.

The fire tower is in the middle of the Catskills, so the surrounding mountains block the view of the valley except for a few views, such as down the Palenville Clove. Westerly views are the best, as are some of the southerly views.

The top deck of the fire tower of is missing the safety screen. Not that it matters much as the railing makes it pretty unlikely to fall, but I still have enough of a fear of heights to be extra careful. Stupid, sure.

A little ways to the south on the blue trail, about 1/2 mile, there is another view that overlooks the south-west, including West Kill Mountains, Slide Mountain, and Belleayre, all clearly identifiable.

This hike is definitely worthwhile when things are green out, if you enjoy looking at mountains. But it was awful gray out, especially by the time I reached the top, and it had clouded over. The lack of views of the Hudson Valley and the river was somewhat disappointing, but not surprising.

I slipped on some ice on the way down, slide about 10 feet and certainly felt it the next day. Other then that, it was a nice descent, much easier then going up. It started to pour, just about the time I reached my truck.

Be sure to see the Central Catskills Photos, where many are from Hunter Mountain.

Hikers – Trail Head
Purple Line – Becker Hollow Trail
Flag – Hunter Mountain Firetower
Balloon – Hunter Mountain South-West Overlook

View Hunter Mountain Hike in a larger map

Overlook Mountain

This past weekend’s Catskill Mountain hike was a return to Overlook Mountain, the first hike I took when I was working on my Hiking Merit Badge back in Boy Scouts. I also chose it because it was a quick hop down Route 9W or Thruway from Albany.

Not getting as early of a start as I would have liked, I arrived at the trail at around 8 AM. There was only one other car when I got there, it was packed by the time I leftbe aware if you plan hiking there. It was a nice clear morning on Sunday, and I made it up to the Catskill Mountain house around 9 AM, and to the fire tower around 9:30 AM. It was an easy hike up, following a well maintained authorized-vehicle only road, although somewhat more difficult psychologically, as you could see a quarter mile or more of the road, as it sloped uphill, sometimes at a 10-15% grade. It was not particularly warm at this hour, but I stopped frequently to snap pictures and stay hydrated.

The ruins over the Overlook Mountain House (2.0 miles from parking area on Meads Mountain Road), was bigger then I last remember it. It was too bad it burned, although it’s kind of neat how the general public can inspect it and think how grand it must of been in the 1920s when it opened, and people drove up there in their Cadillacs of the era. I walked around and snapped some pictures. Then I went up to the fire tower, about 1/2 mile further. It was windy, and it appeared there was a gate closing it off, but I pushed it open and went right up. I didn’t go all the way to the top at first, because I have a little bit fear of heights remaining. I snapped several dozen of pictures.

There also is a trail with southerly view, allowing you to sit and look out over the Hudson River, Woodstock, mountains South of Overlook, and the Ashokian Reservoir. I can’t imagine how beautiful it must look in summer with everything nice and green. I took some notes, pictures, and just gazed at the landscape.

I then decided to head down the mountain. But it was early, around 11 AM, so I decided to go for a hike down to Echo Lake. It looked pretty from the fire tower. I had forgotten I had been down there, during the Boy Scout hike, until I reached the turn off for the Echo Lake trail. The trail from the fire tower to Echo Lake trail turn off, also known as the Overlook Mountain Blue trail, is a gentle descent, following a long abandoned old woods road, complete with extensive grading for travel by automobiles. It’s no longer passable by cars, but remains of the fairly extensive cut and fill can be seen. Some snow and ice where on the trail, and parts where muddy, but no part too bad. This section is 2.0 miles.

The yellow trail down to Echo Lake is somewhat steeper. You descend a lot of altitude in 0.6 miles. Echo Lake is relatively small, but pretty. There is a lean-to down there, along with an established camping area near the lake. The lean-to appeared to be well used and older. It arrived there around noon time. Spend about a half hour there.

The trail from Echo Lake back up to the fire tower was not a bad hike. Passed several hikers, and made it back to the fire tower around 1:30 PM. It was amazing how much the light had changed in 3 hours. It went all the way up the tower this time, as the wind wasn’t blowing so hard, and also to the overlook. Around 2 PM, descended the trail and headed back to the truck. I arrived back around 2:45 PM. It was an easy hike down, although you had to keep holding yourself back.

See more photos from this hike in the Central Catskills Photos Series.

Hikers – Trail Head
House – Catskill Mountain House Ruins
Flag – Overlook Mountain Fire Tower
Tent – Echo Lake Lean-To

View Overlook Mountain / Echo Lake Hike in a larger map

Ground Hog Day

Today is Ground Hog Day, when Punxsutawney Phil is pulled out of his den to find out if he has a shadow, and to forecast the rest of the winter season. We all hope that he does not see his shadow, so that by some act of nature the spring will come six weeks earlier. It’s unlikely though, especially in the northeast.

It’s been awful snowy all winter, including one bitterly cold burst during January. You can argue it’s been worst then most years. The good news is that the worst is beyond us, and mud season can only be a dozen or so weeks away. Some how getting your truck stuck in the mud and muck beats this terrible winter weather.

We all want this season will come to an end. It was fun at first, but not so much now. Things will get warm, and it will be wonderful spring then summer. We will be sweating once again outdoors, and spending long nights looking up at the moon, sitting around the campfire. But for now, enjoy the cold.

Andy Arthur.org

Search Results for: photo fire 4