Spring — Andy Arthur.org

Mount Utsayathana in Early Spring

Andy | April 3, 2010

Two weekends ago I was planning to go hiking up Huntersfield Mountain, but when the trail conditions and time remaining wouldn’t cooperate, I decided to head over to Mount Utsayathana in Stamford.

I fully expected to have to hike up the mountain because the steep and narrow truck trail would be unplowed, very muddy, and possibility icy. With the truck trail hanging right along the shoulder of the mountain without guard rail, you don’t want to fool around.

Quite to my surprise, it was only a little muddy up top, but the rest of the trail was dry. The top of the mountain had some snow drifts, but it had been plowed throughout the winter.

It was a beautiful early spring day out there, looking down at Stamford from the porch of the Utsayathana Mountain House. Things are starting to green up down there, and signs of spring are in the air.

Walked over to the fire tower, and climbed on up.

View out of the Firetower windows.

Looking East towards Huntersfield Mountain and the low lands towards Grand George.

And the western mountains of the Catskills, and the deep agricultural valleys within in them.

Towards the North the ridge continues on a little ways to Bald Mountain, then you get into the standard ridged landscape that covers most of Upstate New York.

Here is a map.

View Larger Map

Do make sure to check out the same great views from when I was up there six months ago in peak folliage of October.

Bennett Hill in Spring

Andy | May 2, 2009

On Saturday I went for a Day Hike up Bennett Hill in Clarksville. It was a beautiful day out, and signs of spring where all over. We first did some trail work, then hiked up Bennett Hill via. the Green Entrance Trail to Yellow Hilltop Loop to the Red descending trail.

It was nice seeing all of the green out this spring. It was not super warm out, but just right temperature wise. It was a short hike, but an enjoyable one for sure. All of the scouts enjoyed it, despite having just moderate hiking experience.

Here is map of Bennett Hill along with description of the hike:

See the Bennett Hill Photos from this past hike plus an earlier one this spring snowshoeing.

View Andy Arthur – Hikes 2009 in a larger map

Spring Really Ain’t Here

Andy | April 13, 2009

In recent days it has started to warm up. The snow has largely disappeared except from the most sheltered areas by recent warm temperatures. The ground is throughly soggy and mud is everywhere. Yet, I am not foolish enough to believe just because the calender says that we are officially in spring, that it really is spring for sure.

We can still very much so get snow fall this late in March and into April. Some of our biggest snow storms of the year occur in late March, as weather closest to 32 degrees produces the most snow. It can still get well below freezing and quite cold at night. Winter doesn’t end the middle of March in Albany.

Yet, we can all take some refreshment in knowing that within a month the world will start to regain the amazing color of spring. Light greens on the trees and the greening of the grass becomes a deep green that will last through out the summer. The warm days in the lower 50s rapidly become warm days in the 70s, where you just want to soak up as much sun.

It may say spring on the calender, but it ain’t really here. Yet, it is still just around the corner.

Plateau Mountain

Andy | April 12, 2009

Plateau Mountain, directly east of Hunter Mountain is one of the Catskill 3500 ft Mountains, but rarely gets much attention. It has a good trail up it, a bit a fairly steep one, that has wonderful southerly views, out towards Edgewood and many Catskill Peaks. It climbs about 1,900 feet in 1.8 miles — a good 20% grade, including several relatively flat places.

Once you reach the top, there is one section where you have to climb up hands and knees up two 4′ steps. Beyond that the trail is essentially flat for the next two miles. There some decent views over Tannersville and of the TriMount region of the Catskills. From there for the next mile and a half there are no views, as the trail wanders around properly lines until it reaches the easterly descent into Mink Hollow.

Not a lot to see once on top of the mountain, long and sprawling with dense forests. Regardless the various views are nice off this mountain, and it’s frequently overlooked as a mountain to hike in the Catskills.

It was a nice hike with some truly beautiful weather. The only mistake I made is I did not bring enough water. I was through 2 liters of water before I knew it. Still I conserved water and made it down safely by about 2 PM (I started up the mountain at 7:45 AM).

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

Hikers – Devils Tombstone Parking Area
Green Line – Plateau Mountain Trail
Balloons – Various views from Plateau Mountain

View Plateau Mountain Trail in a larger map