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Bennett Hill on Christmas Eve

Andy | December 24, 2009

On Christmas Eve I decided to go for a quick afternoon hike up Bennett Hill. I had gotten all my stuff together for Christmas Eve, and was on my way out to visit my parents at their house, so I thought it would be a nice time to go out for a hike up there. I didn’t get to the trailhead until 3:15 PM, so things where a bit rushed and some of the pictures are fuzzy, but it still was pretty awesome.

I made it up to the top at 3 minutes until 4 PM. Here I am looking off the south-west opening almost due south in this picture.

I took the main trail up to the top and walked around the top on the yellow trail. Here is Meadowbrook Farm / Delaware Turnpike looking just out above Clarksville.

Here we are looking out the clearing on Bennett Hill out over Clarksville.

Walking along the top of Bennett Hill. It was an awful grey evening up on Bennett Hill on this Christmas Eve.

Looking out at Pinnacle Hill through the trees. You can’t see this in the summer because the leaves on the trees block the views.

I was quite happy to see the Bathtub Spring that was installed last year is still up and running, despite the cold. I wonder if it will ever get cold enough this winter to freeze, or if the tub will fill up with ice, and that will shut it off. I didn’t try drinking from it this this time.

Here is a map of the hike.

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Bennett Hill in November 2009

Andy | November 8, 2009

I went for a walk at Bennett Hill on a warm afternoon in Novmeber. Here, walking along the pastures that run along the border of Bennett Hill.

Walking along the trail.

Here is the new “Bathtub Spring” we installed as part of a local scout’s Eagle Project. This allows people to refill their water bottles or give their thirsty dog some water. I drank some, it didn’t really kill me yet. Tastes a little bit muddy/gritty.

Meadow Brook Farm from the top of the hill, looking through the trees.

On the top of the hill there is a new clearing you can look out of above Clarksville.

Looking up towards the Adirondacks / Lake George area in the background, with the NYSDOT headquarters and Colonie Center closer in the foreground.

Descending the Red Trail on the Eastern side of the hill, looking out towards of Albany.

And as I headed back to the truck, the sun was setting over Cass Hill.

Here is a map.

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Walkway Over the Hudson

Andy | October 22, 2009

On a rather cloudy day that I had taken off from work last week, I decided to drive down to the Walkway Over the Hudson. I got down there around 9:30 PM, on a cloudy Wednesday, and the parking lot only had one parking spot left on the Pougkeepsie side. It is accessible from the Poughkeepsie side via taking US Route 9 North from Pougkeepsie then turning onto NY Route 9G south. Alternatively, you can access it from Haviland Road in Highland.

The newly extended bike trail leads directly to the Walkway from the rather large Poughkeepsie parking lot. If you can’t find space in the lot, there is plenty of space on nearby city streets.

Big crowds of people entering the Walkway.

At 28-feet wide and nearly two miles long, it’s pretty big and wide. Despite probably several hundred folks on the bridge, it doesn’t feel at claustrophobic or tight.

Looking across Poughkeepsie at the Mid-Hudson Vehicle/Pedestrian bridge.

From the center of the bridge looking directly south.

North along the Highland side of the Hudson River.

All and all it is a beautiful walk across the bridge. If you plan on taking some pictures, and want to walk from one side of the bridge to another, you should figure about two hours of time. More at walkway.org.

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Giant Ledge, October 2009

Andy | October 12, 2009

Giant Ledge is a relatively flat hill located on the ridge between Slide Mountain and Panther Mountain. It can be accessed from the Giant Ledge Parking Area, off of hairpin turn on Slide Mountain Road.

I went hiking on Columbus Day, a little past peak foliage system after spending two nights camping out in Schoharie County. It is a short hike.

Here is cute little bridge that goes over an unamed creek, running down the northern face of Slide Mountain.

After a moderately steep 3/4 mile hike, you reach the “pass” that goes between Slide Mountain and Panther Mountain. This portion is relatively flat, until you reach the last 150 feet of elevation gain, to reach the top of Giant Ledge.

Here is Slide Mountain, peaking through the trees as your going up to the last bit to Giant Ledge.

Looking off Giant Ledge, towards Woodlawn Valley (in the colorful foreground), with Plateau Mountain, Twin Mountain, Indian Head Mountain, and in the middle, Tremper Mountain.

Here is the Wittenberg and Cornell Mountains.

This is the Woodlawn Valley’s beautiful colors.

Part of the trail runs right along the edge.

Off the main blue trail on Giant Ledge, there are two campsites at are primative, but nice. This also leads to a trail with views of the Big Indian Valley

Here is the second of two designated campsites on Giant Ledge. There are no campsites on Panther Mountain, which is too high to allow camping. There also is camping on the lower portion Slide Mountain, minus the wonderful views.

After you hike across the trail to the campsites, there is another short little trail that runs over to a viewpoint with views of Big Indian Mountain, and the Big Indian Valley (where Slide Mountain Road runs).

From here, I hiked up Panther Mountain. Here is a map of the hike.

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Map: Big Buck State Forest And White Pond

Watkins Glen

Andy | June 29, 2009

I happened to be driving through Watkins Glen on my trip from the Finger Lakes National Forest to Sugar Hill State Horse camp, so I figured I would take a walk up the trail once again. I’ve been there before, but I figured this would be a chance to get photos when the light was better.

The last time I was there it was early in the morning. This proved to be a problem for photograhpy, without a tripod, because it was so dark in there. It was much lighter in the middle of the day, abit much more crowded. It also was a very humid day out there.

In several sections of Watkins Glen the trail cuts through caves to get around mountain faces, then emereges out to the most beautifully lit green areas.

The trail follows the edge of the Glen, crossing it several times on beautiful stone bridges.

The trail is beautifully designed and a pleasure to walk, although on a humid day like today, it was pretty hot, despite being largely in the shade.

The trail goes under several waterfalls, and after the week’s rainy days, it was pretty wet in spots.

And almost magical scene in Watkins Glen. This whole area somewhat spirtual feeling, especially on the backdrop of such rich greens.

When you reach the top of the glen, the waterfalls become farther appart and less steep and the creek is relatively flat.

At the top of the Glen is this old railroad bridge. It appears the line is actively used; it would be neat to capture a train going over the Glen. Maybe someday.

Here is a map of the trail I walked in Watkins Glen.

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Here are maps of Watkins Glen.