lean-to

Cotton Hill Lean-To in Late Winter

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For the first day of spring it was around 65 degrees and sunny. The forecast promised only to get down into the upper 50s. The snow was gone in Albany, but in the mountains there was several feet. A top Cotton Hill, there was about two feet of snow.

Looking Down Long Path

Amazingly enough when I got up there, I was the only person who had been up to the lean-to since the last snow storm, probably two weeks ago now. It was very quiet except for the sounds of nature, from the snowy owl to the churbing robins.

Reaching the lean-to, with gear all set up for the the night.

Cotton Hill Lean To

My backpack, and flannel shirts.

Backpack and Flannel Shirts

Sitting in the lean-to, looking at the setting sun. At the front of the lean-to, snow had melted off the roof, and was piling up in the front, creating a snow berm, keeping cool drafts away. Ironically, at this point due to the warm weather, I was sitting in a t-shirt and no jacket on.

Looking Out the Lean-To

As I enjoy a nice a fire.

Warmth from Campfire

And night rapidly approaches.

Lean To at Setting Sun

At times it was a bit smokey in the lean-to, as I played on my cellphone, jotted down some notes, read some books, and just enjoyed the first night of spring.

Smokey Lean-To

It was a nice night. When I woke up, it was a gray cloudy morning and I made up some breakfast and got cleaned up.

Lean To on Cloudy Morning

And I packed my bags…

All Packed Up in the Morning

Burned my garbage from the past night…

Camping Trash

And off I went, down to the truck, then off to Middleburgh Cliff. Here is a map of where the lean-to is.


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A Night Up at Beebe Hill

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I spent a night up at Beebe Hill, at the Chance of Thunder Lean-To about two weeks ago. It was a very humid night, and it clouded up much too early, however, it still was enjoyable experience.

Chance of Thunder Lean To

My camera’s batteries where weak, as this was a last minute decision to spend the night up there, so some of these photos are from a previous spring pictures.

As you can see, it was very hazy at night.

Canaan and Red Rock

The sun sets into the haze.

Setting Sun

By night time the wind was whipping around, with the steel in the tower giving a bit, and it was hard to get a steady photo on the tower, even with the tripod. Yet, it was so beautiful — I went up there at 9:30 PM then once again at midnight. You could see the lights from Ravena to Hudson from the tower, including farms and houses, and while the moon was still out, the outline of hills and valleys, and very faintly the Catskill mountains. It was amazing.

Off Firetower at Night

The next morning it was very foggy out from the humidity, almost looking like rain, but it was not raining.

Rainy Morning

I descended the mountain, headed home around 9:30 AM, as I had to get cleaned up for the Bethlehem for Peace Picnic.

Tower


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