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.

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.