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A Hot and Humid Sunday at Thacher Park

Andy | June 20, 2010

On June 20, prior to going out to the folks house, I decided to go for a little walk at the OSI Parcel of Thacher Park, from Carrick Road down to High Point, then to Hang Gliders’ Point. While very hazy, it still was a beautiful day.

Parked at the old Blue Stone Mining Pit, with the “Stone Sculptures”.

At the 3 Mile Ski Trail Loop Intersection.

Hiking down an old-woods road that I accidentially followed too far and went right past High Point.

I ended up in this big hay field bordering the OSI Parcel that has a trail running through it via a landowner easement.

And I finally found my way to the High Point Overlook, in the haze.

Looking down over the Altamont Fair Grounds.

You could see the corn just starting to pop up along Brandle Road in Altamont from the overlook.

And where a farmer had just cut some fresh hay below.

A pretty cloud.

Looking off High Point onto land below.

Hiked over to Hang Gliders’ Cliff.

View from the unmarked trail to Hang Glider’s Cliff.

A Hang Gliders’ Cliff.

Low clouds hung out and over Settles Hill.

Somebody had hung a flag at Hang Gliders Cliff.

Hiking back to the pickup truck saw this cute little flower.

It was hot! Yet, it was nice to at least get out and do a lot of hiking during this very hot and humid weekend.

Here is a map of the hike.

View Thacher Park 6-20-10 in a larger map

Thatcher Park in November

Andy | November 15, 2009

For my Sunday afternoon walk this afternoon I went up to Thatcher Park. It was 60 degrees out, and quite nice weather for late November. The previous day it had rained quite hard and water was coming out quite intensively from the Horseshoe Falls.

Walking along the fence line above the Escarpment on Horseshoe Clove.

Looking south and at rather gray landscape off Thatcher Park.

Farms outside of Altamont in the fall without the leaves.

A stream of water coming north out of an upper clove.

Birch along the edge of the path.

Hiking at Thacher Park/OSI Parcel, Sept ’09

Andy | September 20, 2009

Notes on the Re-Run for Monday, September 13th.

Two years ago, I went for a hike up at Thacher Park’s OSI Parcel. As a kid, I never was a big fan of Thacher Park, but I’ve fallen in love with the more wild areas, where one can go up and explore for free. Manicured parks, roamed by jack-booted thugs, aren’t my thing but the views from the OSI Parcel are amazing.

— Andy

I went out hiking with my dog on this Sunday afternoon. I parked at the Carrick Road Old Querry. There where several other cars parked there. Here is a map of the Thacher Park OSI Parcel with all of the many different trails that criss-cross these lands. You can click on this map to download it for printing.

By September 20th, there where a few early signs of color, including this somewhat sickly looking Sugar Maple about a quarter mile from the query.

From High Point on the Thacher Park Cliff it was as clear out there as it gets in the summer.

$2022 Governor\'s Race in Albany County$

With the cattle corn ready to harvest…

A toad sat out sunning on the rocks of High Point.

As a horse show was going on down at the Altamont Fairgrounds.

And Albany sat in mild haze, below the Taconic Range, with Berlin Mountain towering above, from Hang Gliders Cliff.

Looking at Horseshoe Clove and all that lies beyond in the distance. A little bit of fall color, but still a bit to go.

Walking along the Yellow Trail out to Whipple Road. A few signs of color along here.

The Yellow Trail is a snowmobile trail in the winter. This sign was installed by the local snowmobile club, and is kind of unusual for a hiking trail.

The Beaver Dam in the pond off the Red Trail from Whipple Road to Carrick Road.

… Thacher Park is not the Adirondacks or Green Mountains. It’s not the most remote parcel in the world, but it is close to Albany, offers some excellent views of the escarpment, and if you explore the OSI parcel to the north of main portion of park, it’s free to park and undeveloped and beautiful lands.