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Monday, Monday

Good morning! Monday’s come back around again. So it has. Mostly cloudy with haze and 65 degrees in Delmar, NY. ⛅ There is a south-southeast breeze at 6 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 65 degrees. The air quality index is a healthy 33. The muggy weather ends Thursday around 2 am. 😓

I’m out walking 🚶 though not as early as I would like as I have a bad case of the Monday’s plus there isn’t the smoldering cars around the High School 🚸 and I don’t have to iron my clothes before work. Decided to give my eyes 👀 a break for now and wear glasses 👓 for my morning walk 🚶 Plus I find the humidity to be kind of a demotivator to getting moving plus the eye issues I had over the weekend.

I started out this morning with a hard-boiled egg 🥚 to get some protein before the morning walk. 🏃 I am been having too much sugar lately, and I besides boosting the fiber in my diet I am coming around the way of the keto folks on having more protein and fiber from eggs and other lower-calorie sources like certain beans and meats. Then for breakfast, I am going to pulverize some white beans and mix them in the cream of wheat with strawberries and blueberries. 🍵 While I don’t like overusing my food chopper, as I think food should be chewed not drunk, it does work good for hiding things like beans in your breakfast.

Today will have a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 9am. Mostly cloudy 🌩, with a high of 81 degrees at 2pm. One degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around June 23rd. Maximum dew point of 71 at 12pm. South wind 6 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. It was somewhat humid. The high last year was 93 degrees. The record high of 99 was set in 1952.

We are stuck in that rather hot, humid unstable weather pattern ⛈️ that is common this time of year. Could get soaked any minute type deal. Sucks for people that have this week off from work – used to be my usual choice though not in recent years as I like to break my summer up more. 😅 Won’t make the evening walk fun but if it’s not raining, I might go down to the park and read for a while then do some steps as darkness approaches and it’s not as hot. 📚 As  At least the air quality is relatively good today, though we need to watch how much the Canadian wildfire smoke pushes in later in the day.

Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:59 pm with sun having an altitude of 70.7° from the due south horizon (-0.1° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 2.1 foot shadow today at noon time. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 7:55 pm with the sun in the west-northwest (297°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-northwest (304°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 8:38 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 28 seconds with dusk around 9:12 pm, which is 3 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the Waxing Gibbous 🌔 Moon in the south-southwest (213°) at an altitude of 37° from the horizon, 245,656 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 9:58 pm. At sunset, look for rain 🌧 and thunderstorms 🌩 and temperatures around 75 degrees. The dew point will be 69 degrees. There will be a south-southeast breeze at 10 mph. Today will have 15 hours and 21 minutes of daytime, a decrease of 19 seconds over yesterday.

Tonight will have showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy , with a low of 66 degrees at 5am. Five degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 70 at 6pm. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. In 2022, we had mostly clear skies. It was humid. It got down to 61 degrees. The record low of 45 occurred back in 1970.

On this day in 1963, U.S. President John F. Kennedy gave his “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech, underlining the support of the United States for democratic West Germany shortly after Soviet-supported East Germany erected the Berlin Wall. 🍩 Also, The Universal Product Code is scanned for the first time in 1974 to sell a package of Wrigley’s chewing gum at the Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio.🛒

Cloudy and rain showers for Independence Day Weekend 🇺🇸 Saturday, a chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Maximum dew point of 66 at 12pm. Sunday, showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Maximum dew point of 67 at 12pm. Typical average high for the weekend is 83 degrees.

I’d like to get out of town this weekend 🚲 but finding a bicycle is a higher priority and it depends on the weather. I might look at bicycles at a few places on Saturday then camp ⛺ maybe in Schoharie and do the Mine Kill Pool 🏊‍♂️ maybe hammock camping. Depends on whether or not I get Monday off as a holiday. Actually I’m thinking the following weekend might be quieter and better for some lazy floating in the Adirondacks along Piseco-Powley Road. A lot depends on the weather. I might due Betty Brook but I worry I can get that campsite, though the little one is rarely taken as most people either go for the big lower site or the field site. Not sure. If it looks wet and I have a bike to ride, I might stay close to home and see what I can explore on the bicycle.

Looking ahead, there are 8 weeks until World Mosquito Day 🐞 when the sun will be setting at 7:50 pm with dusk at 8:18 pm. On that day in 2022, we had hot, partly sunny and temperatures between 88 and 70 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 82 degrees. We hit a record high of 98 back in 1916.

Kelley Stand Road

May 7, 2023 Morning

The somewhat accidental campfire breakfast 🍳

I knew I would be low on propane by the end of the weekend but I decided to not get propane on Thursday when I shopped. Come this morning I ran out and cooked breakfast over a bed of coals. It was pretty good, especially now that I’ve been learning to cook and was full of delicious spinach, tofu, peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes and onions topped with feta. No more kids meals for me with greasy sausage and cheddar cheese. Everything tastes better with the smoke of a fire. Plus it gave me a chance to warm by the fire, cooked up the remaining chicken and rice with onions and peppers to make a lunchtime wrap which I will bring on my Catskill Scenic Trail walk from Grand Gorge to Stamford this afternoon.

Good morning! Happy Sunday. ⛪ Mostly sunny and 43 degrees at the Burnt-Rossman State Forest. There is a west-southwest breeze at 5 mph. 🍃.

Today is warming up quickly as I lay back in the hammock. 😴 It’s not nearly as breezy as yesterday morning so that helps. Plus it’s a nice sunny morning though I’m not sure how long that will last. I guess it’s a good excuse to hike the Catskill Scenic Trail earlier rather than later. 👣 I’ve done most of it in the autumn, it would be interesting to see how much different it is in the spring. 🌺

Today will have increasing clouds ☀ 👉 ☁, with a high of 66 degrees at 3pm. Three degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around May 1st. West wind 5 to 8 mph. A year ago, we had partly cloudy skies in the morning, remaining cloudy in the afternoon. The high last year was 59 degrees. The record high of 92 was set in 1930. 0.2 inches of snow fell back in 1967.❄

Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:55 pm with sun having an altitude of 64.3° from the due south horizon (-6.7° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 2.9 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 7:25 pm with the sun in the west-northwest (287°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-northwest (294°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 8:04 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 10 seconds with dusk around 8:35 pm, which is one minute and 6 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 The best time to look at the stars is after 9:14 pm. At sunset, look for rain 🌧 and temperatures around 58 degrees. There will be a west breeze at 5 mph. Today will have 14 hours and 21 minutes of daytime, an increase of 2 minutes and 20 seconds over yesterday.

Yesterday I hiked 10.7 miles. Kind of a big loop from Burnt Hill Road to the Long Path, past the waterfalls I uploaded the photo 📸 from yesterday, around Looking Glass Pond 🎣 down to Betty Brook, out to CCC Road 2 snowmobile trail 🚶 back up Burnt Hill then back to camp. I didn’t get a real early start yesterday as I wanted to stay out of the woods until after Spring Turkey 🦃 closed for the day at noontime. Plus climbing some of those hills around here can be tiring.

Tonight will rain, mainly between 10pm and 5am. Cloudy 🌧, with a low of 45 degrees at 6am. One degree below normal, which is similar to a typical night around May 6th. West wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Alas it’s probably best I’m heading home after hiking. In 2022, we had partly cloudy skies in the evening, which became mostly clear by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 41 degrees. The record low of 26 occurred back in 1968.

Looking ahead, next Sunday is Mothers Day 👩‍ when the sun will be setting at 8:12 pm with dusk at 8:43 pm. On that day in 2022, we had partly cloudy, warm, rain showers and temperatures between 84 and 66 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 71 degrees. We hit a record high of 93 back in 1900.

White Tulips

This past year I spent 37 nights camping in the wilderness 🏕

This past year I spent 37 nights camping in the wilderness 🏕

Places I Camped in 2021

While this was less then the 63 nights I did in 2020, with remote work winding down and more in-person meetings and events happening in Albany, I ended up not getting out as much as I did the previous year. Still 37 nights camping is still a lot of time in wilderness.

It was a lot rainier then some summers, so that also made it harder to get out of town for long weekends. When I did go camping, and I wasn’t remote working, I tried to make it a priority to find more-remote areas without cell service, so I could get solitude without the constant buzz of the phone. Plus I tended to stay in one campsite for two or three days, to avoid the hassles of taking down and setting up camp.

Saturday/Sunday April 24-25: Two Nights on East Branch

I started out my travels in late April on the East Branch Sacandaga River along NY 8, near Fox Lair. On Saturday, before arriving to camp, I hiked along Hope Falls Road and back to lower and upper Tenant Creek Falls. Sunday, I hiked around Fox Lair, sat down by the river for a while, did some fishing. Had a big ol’ fire. It was cold but also kind of spring-like.

Sunday was kind of cloudy but not to wet

Monday April 26: One Night on Sacandaga River/Speculator Tree Farm

Monday I drove up to Speculator to do remote work at the library and the town park/beach with my laptop. I set up camp at Campsite 17 and in the evening after work, I hiked along Old NY Route 8B, spending some time along Austin Falls and heading back to camp before it got too dark. Tuesday I worked up in Speculator, before heading home. Things were still very brown and gray in the Adirondacks, although I ended up stopping along the Mohawk River in Rotterdam and hiking on the bike trail before dark, and it was much greener down there.

Thursday to Saturday May 13-15: Three Nights on Sacandaga River/Speculator Tree Farm

Thursday morning I got up early and drove up to Speculator before 9 AM to work remotely. I worked until lunch time in Spectulator when I drove down to Campsite 17 and set up camp and worked from there. Worked all day on Friday from camp, mostly sending emails from the hammock although I also edited a report I was working on with my laptop at the table, and grabbed some files a colleague needed off the server over the VPN. Knocked over the lantern, smashing the glass and breaking the the neck on it. On Saturday I hiked back along Robb Mill Road and some of the side trails in the Conservation Easement. Sunday, I drove up to Watch Hill on Indian Lake, hiked that, while there was a constant threat of thunderstorms, so I did it fairly quickly.

Sacandaga River below Austin Falls

Sunday May 16: One Night Camping Near Mason Lake

After hiking Watch Hill I ended up camping at Mason Lake. I also spent some time walking around the Indian Lake/Lewey Campground, just seeing what was there I was hoping being a Sunday I could get a campsite near Mason Lakke, but no such luck. Ended up camping at Campsite 5, a ways from the lake, although in the evening I did walk down to the lake. I did have cell service where I was camping, but it was spotty, so come Monday morning, I headed back to Speculator for work. The black flies were bad camping there, until well after dark I spent most of the afternoon hiding under the screen tent. In the morning, once the sun was up and the tent was down, I was booking out there because the black flies were intense.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday June 17-19: Three nights Camping at House Pond Campsite

Junteenth Weekend, a new state holiday. Piseco-Powley Road was rebuilt, and I spent a lot of time down at the swimming hole there. I was working remote on Thursday, but I left home after work and drove north before dusk. Spent a lot of time cooling off in East Branch by the campsite, laying in the hammock and relaxing. Saturday I spent kayaking at Lily Lake, but none of the lilies were out. Sunday I spent the balance of the day the potholers.

Reading ?

Friday, Saturday, Sunday July 8-10: Three nights camping on Hope Falls Road

After quite a run of rainy weather, we had part of weekend that wasn’t super wet. Also, many weeks in the summer, I preferred to just stay close to home, and catch the Nature Bus and spend Saturdays exploring Thacher Park for free. Friday was a personal day – I had a eye doctors appointment. Then I went north and set up camp at Hope Falls Road. Saturday, I hiked back to Ferris Lake and Tenant Creek Falls. Sunday, partially in the rain, I hiked back to both lower and upper Tenant Creek Falls. Sunday evening back at camp, it absolutely poured. I was originally planning to work remote on Monday and maybe Tuesday in Speculator but the weather was so wet, I decided against that.

Friday July 23: Overnight at Cherry Ridge

Heading out to the Finger Lakes, I overnighted at Cherry Ridge at Charles Baker State Forest in Madison County. It was a stop over after leaving home after work. Noticed how much sway there was in front end of the truck, and the tires were getting loud as they were warn and cupped, grew concerned that I might have issues later on. Eventually in December I replaced the tires, the worn rear shock bushing. and bad sway links. I was dealing with some real anxiety issues at that point. But I had a little fire, then retired early to bed and then took camp down early in the morning and headed west to Montezuma Wildlife Refuge and the state Audubon Preserve.

Saturday July 24: One night Tent Camping Along Backbone Horse Trail at Finger Lakes National Forest

I knew arriving at the Finger Lakes National Forest on a Saturday would mean many campsites would be taken, including the site I wanted. I ended up tent camping at one of the primitive sites off Potomac Road. It was a one night deal as I prefer camping in the truck shell and I saw the people in the campsite I wanted leave, so I quickly grabbed that campsite in the morning. Ended up breaking one of the elastic straps in one of the tent poles, I still need to repair it.

Sunday-Saturday July 25-31: Six Nights Truck Cap Camping Along Backbone Horse Trail at Finger Lakes National Forest

My summer vacation was the Finger Lakes National Forest. I decided to stick close to camp for much summer vacation, not rushing too much from place to place, spending a lot of afternoons at the Watkins Glen Pool, doing some paddling in Seneca Lake and Cayuta Lake, hiking in Texas Hollow and Sugar Hill State Forests. Did a lot of reading and laying back in the hammock. The campsite I stayed at didn’t have cell service, so it gave me a much needed to respite from the internet for a few days. Had some nice fires, drank some beer, and got away from it all.

Summer Vacation Seems So Distant Now

Thursday, Friday, Saturday August 12-15: Three nights at House Pond Campsite with Clams and Sweet Corn

After summer vacation, I decided to take a long weekend — four days — up to Potholers, namely the House Pond campsite with lots of sweet corn, clams and beer. I can still taste the clams and beer, and I had plenty of them to eat over the weekend — they were breakfast, lunch and diner. But it was nice laying back in the hammock and swimming in the swimming hole by that campsite. I also hiked along old Edick Road and to Edick Road Campsite 1, which is way off from the main road, and then down to the ledge. Hiked back to House Pond, which was difficult as there was a lot of blow down from a storm earlier in the summer. Spent much of Sunday at the Potholers and then watched the sun set from the Kane Mountain Firetower. Didn’t bring the kayak this time.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday August 26-28: Three nights (again) at House Pond Campsite

With another warm week ahead, I decided to take off Friday and Monday off for one more week up at House Pond. This time I spent more time at Potholers, walking up there each afternoon, besides spending a lot of time at the swimming hole near this campsite. Did some fishing up House Pond, and a lot of drinking and reading from the hammock. Read yet another book about writing code in Python and Kristen Kimbell’s Dirty Life about farm life. I bought a large truck intertube for floating, but once I got to camp and started to setting up I realized I didn’t have an air pump with me, so I couldn’t use it while camping.

East Canada Creek Below Edick Road Ledge

Friday, Saturday, Sunday September 3-5: Three nights at Hardwood Hill at Perkins Clearing

Friday, September 3rd was the final day of remote work – Labor Day Weekend. I got up early, drove to Speculator before 9 AM. I started working from Speculator Library but with my phone having hotspot service and cell service, mid-day I drove up to Hardwood Hill. This time I made sure to inflate my intertube before heading up north, and I spent Saturday evening until well after dusk floating in the Jessup River off of Jessup River. Then I drove to Sled Harbor after dark, hoping to catch a glimpse the illuminated Wakely Hill Firetower, but I could not see it as it I couldn’t find the good views of the tower from the road after dark.

Saturday September 11: One night at Betty Brook

Decided to do a weekend trip out to Schoharie County to hike the Catskill Scenic Trail south of Grand Gorge through the deep notch where NY 30 runs. Hiked down to Hubbell’s Corners from Grand Gorge then went for a very cold swim at Mine Kill State Park. Mine Kill pool was open late this year due to opening late at the beginning of summer. Water temperature was 58 degrees. Sunday I also went for a quick swim at Mine Kill Pool again. Still very cold.

Into the Notch

Saturday September 18: One Night at House Pond

On September 18th, I drove up to Piseco-Powley Road to camp for three nights, four days. Spent one night at the House Pond Campsite, which I set up in the pouring rain, and spent time floating in the my new rubber intertube. It was a nice day once he rain stopped but the water was very cold. But it was nice laying back in the hammock that evening, although prior to dusk there was a lot of deer flies around and biting.

Sunday/Monday September 19 & 20: Two Nights at Powley Place

On Sunday afternoon I drove further up Piseco-Powley Road to Powley Place to do some camping and paddling on the East Canada Creek. Monday I hiked back to Goldstream Falls then carried my kayak down to the East Canada Creek and paddled down to the first rapids, portaged past that to the second main rapids. The beaver dams were relatively low this time, due to water levels being higher then other times when I’ve paddled the East Canada Creek. Laid back in the hammock, did some reading and looking out over the campsite on these mild, starry nights. Also did some floating down the East Canada Creek

Friday, Saturday, Sunday October 8-10: Three nights camping at Betty Brook

I took off the Friday before Columbus Day Weekend to hike Bear Pen Mountain in the Western Catskills. It was the start to a very colorful weekend. Betty Brook was nice, but it was good I got there relatively early — around 4 PM on Friday as the other campsites were quickly taken. On Saturday, I drove down to Stamford and hiked more of the Catskill Scenic Trail from Stamford for Bloomville then visited a friend in Summit. Sunday I hiked along Betty Brook Road to the snowmobile trail up Burnt Hill, then hiked over the dirt roads on Burnt and Rossman Hills, enjoying the leaves and wildlife. Hiked back  to camp and laid back into the hammock well into the evening, which was quite mild. Sunday I hiked from Grand Gorge to Stamford on the Catskill Scenic Trail.

Saturday, November 6: Camping at County Bridge Campground Pennsylvania

Originally I was planning to get new tires put on my truck prior to going to West Virginia,  trip that was postponed multiple times. Ultimately I decided it wouldn’t be a bad idea to just wear out the tires and go for the trip. I hadn’t decided on where I was going to go until I was on the road, and ended up going to Binghamton, then down to Pennsylvania for my first night camping. It was a cold first night — got down to 14 degrees.

Sunday/Monday November 7-8: Camp Run West Virginia

The first two nights I spent at Camp Run Primitive Campground at Miles, West Virginia which is located in a wash on the backside of Shenandoah Mountain. On Monday of that week I hiked up over Shenandoah Mountain, and watched the sun rise over Camp Run Lake. Tuesday morning I drove over through Judy Gap then up Spruce Mountain and hiked up that. In the afternoon I hiked up Seneca Rocks, something that had long been on my bucket list to do.

Quiet Walk Along Camp Run Road

Tuesday, November 9: Camping at Canaan Heights

On Tuesday night I camped up in Canaan Heights / Table Rock outside of Thomas WV. I was going to stay multiple days but hearing a lot of wheel bearing noise in my truck, I decided it best to head north on Wednesday and see if I could either make it home or get the truck fixed. The wheel bearing burned up by the time I got up to Lock Haven but was able to get it fixed that day and head north to County Bridge.

Wednesday, November 10: Camping at County Bridge Pennsylvania

The second time camping at County Bridge it wasn’t as cold.  I had a fire and retired to bed fairly early. But come the morning, neither the camp stove or the heater was working. I thought I might have have run out of propane. Then packed up in the morning on Veterans Day and headed north to Chenango Forks State Park, which I wanted to explore. I then stopped at Price Chopper, got some groceries and headed up to Long Pond State Forest for two kind of cold and chilly, damp nights.

Thursday/Friday, November 11-12: Camping at Long Pond State Forest

After spending the balance of Veterans Day, Thursday at Chenango Forks State Park, I camped for two nights at Long Pond State Forest. I was still having problems with my camp stove and heater, so it was kind of cold but I was able to find enough firewood to make do, and had some quiet evenings listening to the radio and just hanging out. Friday was pretty rainy, but I made due — beat having going back home. The fires were smokey but they were warm enough. And it beat being home.

Dusk in November

Monday/Tuesday December 20-21: Camping at Stoney Pond State Forest

I thought about getting out of town after Thanksgiving but the weather did not cooperate. Then my truck’s repairs and tires got dragged out to mid-December. I decided to take he week off before Christmas to go camping. I was thinking about Central New York and then the Finger Lakes, but ultimately made it no farther then the Finger Lakes. Saturday was pouring rain, and then Sunday was bitterly cold. And my camp heater and stove were malfunctioning. But ultimately I was able to get it working, after much fiddling at camp. I camped two nights at Stoney Pond, spending Tuesday poking around Cazenovia. Tuesday was very gray, and Wednesday was snowy. Wednesday I drove to Hamilton and hiked part of the Chenango Canal Trail.

Wednesday, December 22: Camping at Moscow Hill Assembly Area

My final night camping in 2021 was the Moscow Hill Assembly Area at the Charles Baker State Forest. I decided to camp there as it was more sheltered from the wind and snow, and in case we got more snow, I figured I wouldn’t have to worry about the snow, as the county highway isn’t that far away. They were expecting high winds and low windchills, but it turned out not to be too bad. I thought about staying another night on Thursday, but the weather for Thursday looked sunny, and wanted to do some hiking, plus I wanted to be home for Christmas Eve for a family Christmas Party.

Primitive Campsites and Lean-Tos in Schoharie County 🏕

Exploring the lesser-traveled back roads and backcountry of Schoharie County reveals a host of hidden camping gems, perfect for those seeking a tranquil woods experience. This guide assists in pinpointing these sites, most of which are accessible by vehicle, suitable for tents or smaller camper units. While some roads can be rugged and seasonally accessible, a pre-trip exploration is recommended to ensure a smooth and enjoyable extended stay amidst the natural surroundings.

Facility

Name

Asset

Lat

Lng

Street

City

Burnt-Rossman Hills State Forest

Betty Brook Campsite

Roadside Campsite

42.5282069949748

-74.5141411051093

267 Miller Rd

Summit

Burnt-Rossman Hills State Forest

Cole Hollow Stream Campsite

Tent Campsite

42.5173809830791

-74.4783362503377

739 Cole Hollow Rd

West Fulton

Burnt-Rossman Hills State Forest

Duck Pond Campsite

Roadside Campsite

42.5101650935711

-74.483569788123

116 Duck Pond Rd

West Fulton

Burnt-Rossman Hills State Forest

Eminence Lean-To

Lean-To

42.5433037239374

-74.488594594497

1478 Burnt Hill Rd

West Fulton

Burnt-Rossman Hills State Forest

Panther Creek Campsite

Tent Campsite

42.5707997358218

-74.5222079737636

822 Sawyer Hollow Rd

Richmondville

Burnt-Rossman Hills State Forest

Westkill Camp Site

Tent Campsite

42.4891982222204

-74.5093675822639

1223 Westkill Rd

Jefferson

Clapper Hollow State Forest

Clapper Hollow Lean-To

Lean-To

42.5282012275126

-74.6420043552481

460 Meade Rd

Jefferson

Dutch Settlement State Forest

Lean-To

Lean-To

42.6294376035285

-74.2675434310789

334 Treadlemire Rd

Berne

Huntersfield State Forest

Lean-To

Lean-To

42.3550413795618

-74.3460668476724

371 Huntersfield Rd

Prattsville

Keyserkill State Forest

Keyserkill Campsite

Tent Campsite

42.4892248356724

-74.3594496582389

578 Keyserkill Rd

Middleburgh

Keyserkill State Forest

Pond Campsite

Tent Campsite

42.5026457018464

-74.3614634029007

198 Coons Den Rd

Middleburgh

Lutheranville State Forest

Sisson Rd Campsite

Roadside Campsite

42.6110826168082

-74.6399766310532

833 County Route 353

Middleburgh

Mallet Pond State Forest

Mallet Pond Campsite (Undesignated)

Tent Campsite

42.5878422010516

-74.5223274563456

634 Rossman Fly Rd

Richmondville

Mallet Pond State Forest

Rossman Pond Campsite (Undesignated)

Roadside Campsite

42.5941596281094

-74.5290358970195

634 Rossman Fly Rd

Richmondville

Rensselaerville State Forest

Campsite 2

Roadside Campsite

42.4994499144647

-74.1948355550861

856 Cheese Hill Rd

Preston Hollow

Rensselaerville State Forest

Campsite 4

Roadside Campsite

42.501426797599

-74.2175233050623

833 County Route 353

Middleburgh

Camping at Betty Brook a Few Weeks Back

May 17, 2020 10 PM Update

Good evening! Cloudy and 67 degrees in Delmar, NY. ☁ There is a east breeze at 5 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 50 degrees. The skies will clear Tuesday around 1 am.

For all the commotion earlier it looks like the fire 🚒 is out or whatever all the emergency vehicles were reporting too. Maybe I’m a bit paranoid about the plastics plant blowing up but I’m well aware of toxic chemicals they use at SABIC plastics and it sure seemed like a lot of emergency response heading that way. 👮 Probably safer at home at any rate and who knows their is rain pushing this way shortly.

It’s not like I sat home and eat twinkies all day. 🍛 I did have a bowl of tuna fish salad for dinner but it probably has a quarter pound of peas and broccoli besides the noodles, mayonnaise and tuna fish. 🐠 I did hold back on the mayonnaise a bit.

Walking out to Five Rivers this afternoon was nice. 🐸 Spent several hours studying nature with the binoculars my parents lent me. It’s really fascinating to watch the birds up close and even just study squirrel and chipmunk behavior. Next up I need to get a better knowledge of bird 🐦 species – I know the common ones but especially the migratory birds are a bit of a mystery to me. I thought about Black Creek Marsh at dusk but I decided to hold off because it was getting late – after seven o’clock when I started walking home from Five Rivers.

To be honest, my plan for visiting Black Creek Marsh at dusk 🌆 wasn’t just for bird watching 🐦 or photos 📷 but in part because I was curious how effective the Permethrin would be in really buggy weather – that is with DEET on the face and arms. People swear by it and while I haven’t found any ticks on me yet and saw a mosquitoes collapse after crawling on my jeans 👖 I’m not totally convinced of the hype. I did spray my hat yesterday too. Unlike DEET I might also be able to safely apply it to the hammock which would help with the bugs when I’m lying there.

Tonight will be scattered sprinkles before 11pm, then showers likely, mainly after 3am. Cloudy 🌧, with a low of 53 degrees at 5am. Five degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical night around June 2nd. Maximum dew point of 50 at 9pm. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. In 2019, we had mostly clear skies. It got down to 46 degrees. The record low of 29 occurred back in 1981.

Tonight will have a Waining Crescent 🌘 Moon with 19% illuminated. The darkest hour is at 12:53 am, followed by dawn at 4:59 am, and sun starting to rise at 5:32 am in the east-northeast (62°) and last for 3 minutes and 16 seconds. Sunrise is 57 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌄 The golden hour ends at 6:13 am with sun in the east-northeast (69°). Tonight will have 9 hours and 16 minutes of darkness, a decrease of one minute and 57 seconds over last night.

Tomorrow will have showers likely, mainly before 9am. Mostly cloudy 🌦, with a high of 65 degrees at 3pm. Five degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around May 2nd. Maximum dew point of 50 at 10am. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies in the morning, which became light rain by afternoon. The high last year was 73 degrees. The record high of 94 was set in 2017. 2.2 inches of snow fell back in 2002.❄

In four weeks on June 14 the sun will be setting in the west-northwest (303°) at 8:34 pm,🌄 which is 21 minutes and 28 seconds later then tonight. In 2019 on that day, we had partly cloudy skies and temperatures between 68 and 53 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 78 and 56 degrees. The record high of 96 degrees was set back in 1892.

So the Gas Up tractor and agricultural festival is canceled for June. 🚜 I think that was kind of expected during the pandemic although they’re considering trying to reschedule for mid August. Could be hot then I’m thinking though. Assuming it’s even an option then – they didn’t seem too hopeful. 😔

Looking ahead, Strawberry Moon 🌕 is in 3 weeks and Fathers Day 👨 is in 4 weeks.

🇺🇸🦅Only 5 days remain until the start of Memorial Day Weekend!🦅🇺🇸

I was doing some reading on the internet and found out that the lower part of Piseco Powley Road is still not fully rebuilt from the October 2019 storm and that the road is closed. ⛺ So I guess that’s out for the weekend. Hopefully soon though they’ll finish the rebuild and open the gates all the way. There are other options but with the nice weather expected and the state campgrounds closed they’ll fill up quickly.

So the original plan of delaying my Memorial Day Weekend for one week is back on the agenda. 🔙 That’s fine, it gives me more time to pack and potentially opens up more options as there will be fewer people camping, especially if I drive up Thursday evening or Friday morning on a non holiday weekend. I never did a spring trip this year with a long weekend so I have the time.

Come June for example, it’s likely Perkins Clearing Road and West River Road and White House in Wells will open. 🚧 But also I expect I could get that campsite up on Pumpkin Hollow Road when on a non holiday weekend. If it’s hot though it would be nice to be able to walk to water. Betty Brook or Duck Pond are good options in Schoharie County. 💭

East Branch Sacandaga River is fine but it’s noisy 🐠 and the river isn’t that great for fishing due to the fluctuating water levels. A drought in summer – as was a case a few years ago can leave the river with only a few inches of water. Right now, Cherry Ridge and Finger Lakes National Forest are closed for camping.

Maybe Moose River will be my summer vacation if Piseco Powley Road ⛺ is not rebuilt. While I assume ny mid summer that the Finger Lakes National Forest will reopen for camping if the pools and beaches aren’t open I’m sure if I’d want to do summer vacation there.

Other options include the Allegheny and Green Mountain National Forest. 🗻 The later is open but who knows if the current limits on out of state visitors will be lifted by summer. That Grout Pond beach is fun and some of sites along Forest Road 73 not only have good sun ☀ for solar but also cell reception.

View from Gravesite

July 10, 2019 Morning

Good morning! What day is it? Hump Day, of course. Going to be hot later or so I’m told by Mr. NOAA and his brave men and women based on their fancy computer models. 🔥 Three weeks to my Teeth Cleaning Day 😄Clean teeth are important. Now, I just need to schedule a physical 😷 and get my tetanus booster. 💉 Partly sunny and 69 degrees at the Elm Ave Park & Ride – CDTA. ☀ Calm wind. The dew point is 57 degrees. Nice morning, enjoyed my walk down to the bus.🚏

Today will be mostly sunny and hot ☀, with a high of 91 degrees at 5pm. But maybe not too ungodly humid? Muggers won’t be that active today. They’re lurking in their dark corners for tomorrow. Nine degrees above normal. It’s called summer time, the hottest time of the year starts Friday, the first sunset before 8:30 is on Tuesday. Maximum dew point of 60 at 11am. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies in the morning, which became mostly sunny by afternoon. It became sticky as the day progressed. The high last year was 92 degrees. The record high of 100 was set in 1936.

The sun will set at 8:34 pm with dusk around 9:08 pm, which is 28 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌇 At sunset, look for mostly clear skies 🌄 and temperatures around 84 degrees. The dew point will be 62 degrees. There will be a calm wind. Today will have 15 hours and 6 minutes of daytime, an decrease of one minute and 12 seconds over yesterday.

This evening, I have another Save the Pine Bush event 🦋 to go to, namely the Guilderland Town Planning meeting over that Rapp Road development. Should be an interesting meeting, and hopefully the building will be well air conditioned. I might go for a hike after the meeting, although more likely then not, I’ll end up going to another meeting with the Pine Bush folks probably at a dinner. ☕

Tonight will be partly cloudy 🌤, with a low of 69 degrees at 5am. Eight degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 65 at 11pm. Light south wind. In 2018, we had mostly clear skies. It was somewhat humid. It got down to 63 degrees. The record low of 48 occurred back in 1986.

I saw another one of my fellow high schoolers bought a house. 🏡 In Upstate New York of all places. Seems like I’m getting to the age where everyone’s buying property, while I’m just buying stocks and bonds. Based on the numbers I’ve seen, renting my run down apartment, walking around town and taking the bus 🚍 to work and investing I still come out ahead.  If I owned land, I’d probably get in trouble for burning shit I shouldn’t be be. 🔥

I don’t live in Pennsylvania, where people burn everything from couches 🛋️ and old buildings on-down.🏚 Eventually when I am a little more financially secure, don’t have family anymore nearby, and I will move to a more rural state that has a lot more freedom. ✊ Maybe Wyoming? 🤠 That’s a segue, although I don’t know what I would do out there, but I’ve heard good things about moving out west in places like Idaho or Missouri.

On this day in 1890, Wyoming is admitted to the United States as the 44th US State. 🌋Many liberals regard that as a mistake, although it has some beautiful country out in Yellowstone and lots of oil and coal. 🏭 And no nearby neighbors, which is fun if you want to have big bonfires all of the time, drink beer, ride four wheelers, have hogs, cattle, and other animals 🥩like on Our Wyoming Life.🤠  And in 1962, Telstar, the world’s first communication satellite is launched.⭐ And they wrote a song about it, 🚀 until it was destroyed by the nuclear tests that not only nuked our satellite but put cesium-138 into our milk and ice cream.🐮

Going to be a nice, hot summer weekend. 🏊 Saturday, mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Maximum dew point of 64 at 7pm. Sunday, mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Maximum dew point of 63 at 6am. Little less muggy then the second half of the week. Typical average high for the weekend is 83 degrees. I think my plans for the weekend remain constant. It’s going to be hot 🔥 but no so bad out in the country in Schoharie County. I wonder if they will have sweet corn 🌽 out there. Swimming, fishing, maybe hiking. I’m sure it will be cool down by the Betty Brook. Then next weekend is the real vacation.🏖 I hope that my state parks pass is activated — it should be — but I haven’t tested it yet.

As previously noted, there are 3 weeks until Teeth Cleaning Day 😃 when the sun will be setting at 8:16 pm with dusk at 8:48 pm. On that day in 2018, we had partly sunny and temperatures between 86 and 67 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 82 degrees. We hit a record high of 98 back in 1917.

Hang Gliders Cliff

Camping Log

New York Land Cover

January – June 2011.

Roadside: 9, Tent: 1, Leanto: 0 nights …

Date Campsite Where Type Notes
06/19/11 Campsite On Forest Road 70 Near Lye Wilderness Forest Road 70, Green Mountains NF, Kelley Stand, VT Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Hiked towards Big Alder, but couldn’t cross stream. Rainy day, did a little paddling in Powley Place. Nicer day on Memorial Day
06/04/11 Campsite On Back Side of Stockmans Island Stockmans Island, Hudson River State Park, NY Tent camping after paddling in on kayak Put in at Coxscakie Boat Launch, camped on an island in Hudson River.
05/29/11 Powley Place (Campsite 9) Piseco-Powley Road, Ferris Lake Wild Forest, Stratford, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Hiked towards Big Alder, but couldn’t cross stream. Rainy day, did a little paddling in Powley Place. Nicer day on Memorial Day.
05/28/11 Powley Place (Campsite 9) Piseco-Powley Road, Ferris Lake Wild Forest, Stratford, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Rainy day. Hiked around Powley Place.
05/27/11 Powley Place (Campsite 9) Piseco-Powley Road, Ferris Lake Wild Forest, Stratford, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Left work early, drove up there. Nice evening before the rain.
05/21/11 Cheney Pond Cheney Pond, Vanderwhacker Wild Forest, Newcomb, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Explored Vanderwhacker Wild Forest. Kayaked around Cheney Pond couple of times, explored Tawandus Ruins.
05/20/11 Fox Lair Campsite NY Route 8, Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, Bakers Mills, Adirondacks, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Much nicer this time, a little rain, things greened up. Got a little rain, very damp.
04/22/11 Fox Lair Campsite NY Route 8, Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, Bakers Mills, Adirondacks, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Woke up to 3” of cold wet snow and rain, decided to go home and abandon trip.
04/21/11 Gravel Pit Campsite NY Route 8, Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, Griffin, Adirondacks, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Cold morning, trees covered with ice. Hike up around part of 13th Lake near North Creek, NY
04/09/11 Moscow Hill Horse Camp Brookfield State Forest aka Charles Baker State Forest, Brookfield, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge One other camper here, no equestrians this time of year. Wanted to camp on Cherry Ridge, however too much snow there.

Getting Out and Stretch

March – December 2010.

Roadside: 28, Tent: 2, Leanto: 1 nights …

Date Campsite Where Type Notes
12/4/10 Old NY 8 Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, Griffin, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Very cold. Ice and snow on truck in morning. Kind of close to NY 8, but all the best campsites taken by hunters.
11/12/10 Lower Assembly Area Sugar Hill State Forest, Watkins Glen, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Woke up surrounded by Horse Trailers and equestrians in morning. Assembly area was closed this time of year, but horse trails still widely used.
11/11/10 Informal campsite on Forest Road 151 Allegheny National Forest, Near Sayre, PA Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Second night at Allegheny National Forest. I liked the site I stayed in the previous day a lot, and the days where too short (sunset at 4:45 PM), so no time to waste searching for a site.
11/10/10 Informal campsite on Forest Road 151 Allegheny National Forest, Near Bradford, PA Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Many sites in Allegheny National Forest. This one I particularly liked, so I decided to stay there.
11/09/10 Aspah Run Camping Area Aspah, near Wellsboro, PA Roadside camping (in pickup truck): paid primitive area Decided due to a lack of a time due to early sunset, would have done roadside/back country camping, but for $10, and being alone, it was fine.
11/08/10 Aspah Run Camping Area Aspah, near Wellsboro, PA Roadside camping (in pickup truck): paid primitive area Camped here, because I didn’t want to camp back country, and didn’t know the area well enough.
11/07/10 Lower Assembly Area Sugar Hill State Forest, Watkins Glen, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Originally wanted to camp at Birds Eye Lake or something like that, but the map I had got me lost, and I couldn’t find the road campsite up there.
11/06/10 Campsite 7 Stoney Pond State Forest, Madison, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Frost/ice on puddles in morning. Some snow in some places.
09/05/10 Campsite 56 Moose River Plains, Inlet, Adirondacks, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Rain showers, enjoyed staying in a very private and quite campsite up in the sandy plains.
09/04/10 Campsite 56 Moose River Plains, Inlet, Adirondacks, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Hiked to Mitchells Pond. More rain. It was kind of wet and cold.
09/03/10 Campsite 56 Moose River Plains, Inlet, Adirondacks, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Kind of wet and rainy, hung out in camp, did a little exploring of the plains. Also, paddled in Cedar River Flow for a while. Enjoyed the very private drive in site here.
09/02/10 Campsite 2 Moose River Plains, Inlet, Adirondacks, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge I left work at 5 PM…. but with traffic, and wanting to get a pizza to eat on the way up, didn’t get to Moose River Plains until after 9 PM. Very dark, very tired, just wanted a place to collapse.
08/28/10 An Designated Campsite Big Pond, near Margretville, NY Kayak in Primitive Campsite: no charge Did a little hiking an exploring around Ashfield Pinnacle, then drove south to Big Pond. Lantern did not work, a very dark night.
08/27/10 Betty Brook Campsite Burnt-Rossman Hill State Forest, Schoharie, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Nice night after work…. drove around Mallet Pond State Forest, looking for campsites and interesting places to explore.
08/14/10 Mountain Pond Campsite 4 Mountain Pond, Paul Smiths, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Last day of NY 30 Kayak vacation. Mountain Pon was nice, very remote, just off of NY 30.
08/13/10 Floodwood Road Campsite 3 Floodwood Road, Fish Creek Ponds, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Crowded, stayed down by Poliwog Pond… wouldn’t go there again.
08/12/10 Horseshoe Lake Campsite 8 (about a ½ mile from lake) NY 421, Horseshoe Lake, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Couldn’t get a site right on Horseshoe Lake. Discovered Lows Lake – amazing.
08/11/10 Wakely Pond Campsite 7 Moose River Plains, Inlet, Adirondacks, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Wanted to paddle Cedar River Flow and enjoy camping up near water …
08/10/10 Undesigned Campsite, west side of road Mason Lake, Spectulator, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge First day of kayak vacation, as I drove up from work, decided to go somewheres not too far away …
07/31/10 Undesigned Campsite, west side of road Mason Lake, Spectulator, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Hiked to Pillsbury Mountain Firetower, then camped down at Mason Lake.
07/18/10 Otter Brook Campsite (MRP Number 110) Moose River Plains, Inlet, Adirondacks, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Camped by the Otter Brook Bridge, at a rather large campsite. Not my favorite campsite, and it poured out.
07/17/10 Wakely Pond Campsite 8 Moose River Plains, Inlet, Adirondacks, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Camped down by Cedar River Flow, in a drive in site, a short way from the Flow, but also pretty private.
07/16/10 Wakely Pond Campsite 8 Moose River Plains, Inlet, Adirondacks, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Camped down by Cedar River Flow, in a drive in site, a short way from the Flow, but also pretty private.
07/15/10 Wakely Pond Campsite 8 Moose River Plains, Inlet, Adirondacks, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Camped down by Cedar River Flow, in a drive in site, a short way from the Flow, but also pretty private.
06/27/10 Balsam Swamp Camping Area Site 3 Balsam Pond, East East Pharsalia, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Came back to here, after exploring Labrador Hollow.
06/26/10 Balsam Swamp Camping Area Site 3 Balsam Pond, East East Pharsalia, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Stop over between Burnt-Rossman and Labrador Hollow. Liked camping here in the past.
06/25/10 Duck Pond Campsite Burnt-Rossman Hill State Forest, Summit, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Camped up a Duck Pond for a change, after driving out here after work.
06/05/10 Leonard Hill Informal Overlook and Campsite Leonard Hill, Broome Center, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Camped up by the Firetower at an informal campsite, watched sun set, weather turned to rain by morning …
06/04/10 Betty Brook Campsite Burnt-Rossman Hill State Forest, Schoharie, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Camped at Betty Brook, very humid, drove down to Utsaythana Firetower.
05/15/10 Alder Pond Campsite 2 Alder Pond, Balsam Lake Wild Forest, Margretville, NY Tent campsite…. short backpack in: no charge Camped at one of the campsites around Alder Pond.
04/03/10 Betty Brook Campsite Burnt-Rossman Hill State Forest, Schoharie, NY Roadside camping, in a tent Didn’t have the cap on my truck yet, but wanted to roadside camp.
03/21/10 Cotton Hill Lean To Cotton Hill, Middleburgh Short backpack into a leanto There was about a foot of snow up by Cotton Hill Leanto on first day of spring, but due to abnormally warm weather, wasn’t all that cold until late into the night.

Campsite

August – October 2009.

Roadside: 3, Tent: 0, Leanto: 0 (thru August 2009) …

Date Campsite Where Type Notes
10/11/09 Betty Brook Campsite Burnt-Rossman Hill State Forest, Schoharie, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge First really cold evening of the year, very much fall like. I didn’t bring my warm coat with me.
10/10/09 Betty Brook Campsite Burnt-Rossman Hill State Forest, Schoharie, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge Fairly cold night, but not as bad as one might have thought. On way out, stopped at Leonard Hill to take some pictures.
08/08/09 Betty Brook – informal campsite along road Burnt-Rossman Hill State Forest, Schoharie, NY Roadside camping (in pickup truck): no charge After hiking Slide Mountain and Balsam Lake Firetower. Dead tired …