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Camping at Betty Brook, Aug 26

Andy | August 26, 2010

The Betty Brook Campsite remains one of my favorite in NY State, especially because it’s a quick hour drive from downtown Albany out there, over the Thruway and the Warren Andersen Expressway. It almost never disappoints, and it was a great night.

Morning Sun. The valley being so deep around Betty Brook the sun sets early, and rises late this time of year. Looking at the sun through the trees, a little after 9 AM.

Betty Brook Road. Just looking at this road brings me home, back to my favorite camping area.

The Campsite. And yes, I of course have my trademark Christmas lights that I always use for ambiance.

I headed from here, in my truck, up to explore the Mallet Pond State Forest-area just to the north. I probably will camp up at Rossman Pond the next time I am here, because the pond is so pretty and I can paddle around with my kayak there.

Here is a map of the Betty Brook Campsites. There is a larger one to the south, but I generally prefer the one to the north, as its smaller and the firepit and stone table is much nicer.

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Third Weekend at Burnt-Rossman

Andy | July 25, 2009

The primitive campsites at Burnt-Rossman are my favorite place to visit. They are in a remote part of Schoharie County, yet only a 10 minute drive from I-88 and a total of an hour and ten minutes from my place in Delmar. There is ample water, and the sites have nice little fireplaces, and places to camp where you can drive in.

It rained on Friday night, so I put up my tarp. I spent much of Saturday going between the creek up there with my feet in there, and sitting in this very comfortable chair, reading Noel Perin’s Third Person Rural. It was very quiet Saturday, seeing all but one pickup going past, plus a family in a minivan, and three people riding horseback with cowboy hats.

I had my Christmas lights up and stayed up really late several nights. It was great, and beat the horrible humid weather that people in Albany had to suffer through during this very warm weekend.

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Camping at Betty Brook

Andy | May 15, 2009

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:

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