spring

Rising and setting times for the Sun – February and March 2013

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Sunset from Camp

The days are rapidly getting longer, with later sunsets at these table show.

February 2014

Length of day Solar noon
Date Sunrise Sunset This day Difference Time Altitude Distance
(million mi)
Feb 1, 2014 7:09 AM 5:09 PM 9h 59m 07s + 2m 21s 12:09 PM 30.4° 91.607
Feb 2, 2014 7:08 AM 5:10 PM 10h 01m 31s + 2m 23s 12:09 PM 30.7° 91.621
Feb 3, 2014 7:07 AM 5:11 PM 10h 03m 56s + 2m 25s 12:09 PM 31.0° 91.634
Feb 4, 2014 7:06 AM 5:13 PM 10h 06m 22s + 2m 26s 12:09 PM 31.3° 91.648
Feb 5, 2014 7:05 AM 5:14 PM 10h 08m 51s + 2m 28s 12:09 PM 31.6° 91.662
Feb 6, 2014 7:04 AM 5:15 PM 10h 11m 21s + 2m 29s 12:09 PM 31.9° 91.676
Feb 7, 2014 7:03 AM 5:16 PM 10h 13m 52s + 2m 31s 12:09 PM 32.2° 91.691
Feb 8, 2014 7:01 AM 5:18 PM 10h 16m 25s + 2m 32s 12:09 PM 32.5° 91.706
Feb 9, 2014 7:00 AM 5:19 PM 10h 18m 59s + 2m 34s 12:09 PM 32.8° 91.722
Feb 10, 2014 6:59 AM 5:20 PM 10h 21m 35s + 2m 35s 12:09 PM 33.1° 91.738
Feb 11, 2014 6:58 AM 5:22 PM 10h 24m 12s + 2m 36s 12:09 PM 33.5° 91.754
Feb 12, 2014 6:56 AM 5:23 PM 10h 26m 49s + 2m 37s 12:09 PM 33.8° 91.771
Feb 13, 2014 6:55 AM 5:24 PM 10h 29m 29s + 2m 39s 12:09 PM 34.1° 91.788
Feb 14, 2014 6:53 AM 5:26 PM 10h 32m 09s + 2m 40s 12:09 PM 34.5° 91.806
Feb 15, 2014 6:52 AM 5:27 PM 10h 34m 50s + 2m 41s 12:09 PM 34.8° 91.825
Feb 16, 2014 6:51 AM 5:28 PM 10h 37m 33s + 2m 42s 12:09 PM 35.2° 91.843
Feb 17, 2014 6:49 AM 5:30 PM 10h 40m 16s + 2m 43s 12:09 PM 35.5° 91.863
Feb 18, 2014 6:48 AM 5:31 PM 10h 43m 00s + 2m 44s 12:09 PM 35.9° 91.882
Feb 19, 2014 6:46 AM 5:32 PM 10h 45m 45s + 2m 44s 12:09 PM 36.2° 91.902
Feb 20, 2014 6:45 AM 5:33 PM 10h 48m 31s + 2m 45s 12:09 PM 36.6° 91.923
Feb 21, 2014 6:43 AM 5:35 PM 10h 51m 17s + 2m 46s 12:09 PM 36.9° 91.944
Feb 22, 2014 6:42 AM 5:36 PM 10h 54m 04s + 2m 47s 12:09 PM 37.3° 91.965
Feb 23, 2014 6:40 AM 5:37 PM 10h 56m 52s + 2m 47s 12:08 PM 37.7° 91.986
Feb 24, 2014 6:39 AM 5:38 PM 10h 59m 41s + 2m 48s 12:08 PM 38.0° 92.008
Feb 25, 2014 6:37 AM 5:40 PM 11h 02m 30s + 2m 49s 12:08 PM 38.4° 92.030
Feb 26, 2014 6:36 AM 5:41 PM 11h 05m 20s + 2m 49s 12:08 PM 38.8° 92.052
Feb 27, 2014 6:34 AM 5:42 PM 11h 08m 10s + 2m 50s 12:08 PM 39.2° 92.074
Feb 28, 2014 6:32 AM 5:43 PM 11h 11m 01s + 2m 50s 12:08 PM 39.5° 92.096

March 2014

Length of day Solar noon
Date Sunrise Sunset This day Difference Time Altitude Distance
(million mi)
Mar 1, 2014 6:31 AM 5:45 PM 11h 13m 52s + 2m 51s 12:07 PM 39.9° 92.119
Mar 2, 2014 6:29 AM 5:46 PM 11h 16m 44s + 2m 51s 12:07 PM 40.3° 92.142
Mar 3, 2014 6:28 AM 5:47 PM 11h 19m 36s + 2m 52s 12:07 PM 40.7° 92.164
Mar 4, 2014 6:26 AM 5:48 PM 11h 22m 28s + 2m 52s 12:07 PM 41.1° 92.187
Mar 5, 2014 6:24 AM 5:50 PM 11h 25m 21s + 2m 52s 12:07 PM 41.5° 92.210
Mar 6, 2014 6:23 AM 5:51 PM 11h 28m 14s + 2m 53s 12:06 PM 41.8° 92.233
Mar 7, 2014 6:21 AM 5:52 PM 11h 31m 07s + 2m 53s 12:06 PM 42.2° 92.256
Mar 8, 2014 6:19 AM 5:53 PM 11h 34m 01s + 2m 53s 12:06 PM 42.6° 92.280
Note: hours shift because clocks change forward 1 hour
Mar 9, 2014 7:18 AM 6:54 PM 11h 36m 55s + 2m 53s 1:06 PM 43.0° 92.304
Mar 10, 2014 7:16 AM 6:56 PM 11h 39m 49s + 2m 53s 1:05 PM 43.4° 92.327
Mar 11, 2014 7:14 AM 6:57 PM 11h 42m 43s + 2m 54s 1:05 PM 43.8° 92.351
Mar 12, 2014 7:12 AM 6:58 PM 11h 45m 37s + 2m 54s 1:05 PM 44.2° 92.376
Mar 13, 2014 7:11 AM 6:59 PM 11h 48m 31s + 2m 54s 1:05 PM 44.6° 92.400
Mar 14, 2014 7:09 AM 7:00 PM 11h 51m 26s + 2m 54s 1:04 PM 45.0° 92.425
Mar 15, 2014 7:07 AM 7:02 PM 11h 54m 20s + 2m 54s 1:04 PM 45.4° 92.450
Mar 16, 2014 7:05 AM 7:03 PM 11h 57m 15s + 2m 54s 1:04 PM 45.8° 92.476
Mar 17, 2014 7:04 AM 7:04 PM 12h 00m 10s + 2m 54s 1:03 PM 46.2° 92.501
Mar 18, 2014 7:02 AM 7:05 PM 12h 03m 04s + 2m 54s 1:03 PM 46.6° 92.527
Mar 19, 2014 7:00 AM 7:06 PM 12h 05m 59s + 2m 54s 1:03 PM 47.0° 92.554
Mar 20, 2014 6:58 AM 7:07 PM 12h 08m 54s + 2m 54s 1:03 PM 47.3° 92.580
Mar 21, 2014 6:57 AM 7:09 PM 12h 11m 48s + 2m 54s 1:02 PM 47.7° 92.606
Mar 22, 2014 6:55 AM 7:10 PM 12h 14m 43s + 2m 54s 1:02 PM 48.1° 92.633
Mar 23, 2014 6:53 AM 7:11 PM 12h 17m 38s + 2m 54s 1:02 PM 48.5° 92.660
Mar 24, 2014 6:51 AM 7:12 PM 12h 20m 32s + 2m 54s 1:01 PM 48.9° 92.687
Mar 25, 2014 6:50 AM 7:13 PM 12h 23m 26s + 2m 54s 1:01 PM 49.3° 92.714
Mar 26, 2014 6:48 AM 7:14 PM 12h 26m 21s + 2m 54s 1:01 PM 49.7° 92.741
Mar 27, 2014 6:46 AM 7:15 PM 12h 29m 15s + 2m 54s 1:00 PM 50.1° 92.768
Mar 28, 2014 6:44 AM 7:17 PM 12h 32m 09s + 2m 53s 1:00 PM 50.5° 92.795
Mar 29, 2014 6:43 AM 7:18 PM 12h 35m 02s + 2m 53s 1:00 PM 50.9° 92.821
Mar 30, 2014 6:41 AM 7:19 PM 12h 37m 56s + 2m 53s 1:00 PM 51.3° 92.848
Mar 31, 2014 6:39 AM 7:20 PM 12h 40m 49s + 2m 53s 12:59 PM 51.7° 92.875

 

To be sure, the days are getting longer, and will speed up the increase in daylight until the first day of calender spring in March.

April

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April Showers; Bring May Flowers. —Common Folk Proverb

The month of April is when in Albany we see the last snow showers of the year, and the winter is washed away by the occasional rain showers that dot the days. April in Albany is not a particularly rainy month, and indeed with the rapidly warming temperatures and dry weather leaves us with the highest wildfire danger of year.

By the end of the month, the valleys will start to show the first signs of green, and our world will start to return to it’s “technicolor” beauty. It will largely be a month of browns and grays in the mountains, occasionally with the lack of shade, the weather will be hot and brutal. We will all get bad sunburns in the next month, often the worst sunburns of the year, with no place to hide from the sun that is getting higher over our heads every day.

Sidewalk

Over the next month, the daylight will grow by almost 2 hours, with the sun not setting until after 8 PM by the time May rolls around. The sun will start rising an hour earlier to. This bright springtime sunlight will start waking up nature’s cycles and engaging spring time weather by the end of the month. Green will be popping up everywhere.

Sunset Brush

April is in many ways November in reverse. November takes us from the delightful color of October into the wintry December. April leads us from the cold harsh weather of March back into the delightful color of May. Warm weather is heading our way, as is the beauty of springtime.

Rainy Skies

Enjoy the month, get out, and enjoy some of the bright clear days that make April such a charming month.

Places to Roadside Camp in Early Spring in Adirondacks

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The two longest back country roads in Adirondacks — Cedar River-Limekiln Lake Road and Piseco-Powley Road — are generally closed during mud season. Other dirt roads like Moose Club Way tend to be muddy, and their is a risk you’ll get stuck back there.

It’s always a good idea to bring extra weight in your truck bed, a come-a-long or whinch, and snow shovel. You might not be far from a blacktop road at these campsites, but that is no guarantee you won’t get stuck.

1) NY Route 8 / East Branch of Sacandaga River

The campsites are all off NY 8, an all season plowed and maintained asphalt road. Some sites are reinforced with gravel. Be aware some sites may be plowed full of snow from the winter clearing of NY 8. Roughly 15 campsites along this road, however some may be too muddy for this time of year.

Susquehanna State Forest

Tent Camping at Foxx Lair

2) South of Arietta Town Line on Piseco-Powley Road

There are 7 campsites along Piseco-Powley Road, north of Stratford, prior to the Arietta Town Line gate, which is near the Potholers on East Canada Creek. This road is well packed dirt, reinforced with gravel up to gate, and should be accessiable year round, minus the snow.

Renters vs Population Density - NY Census Tracts

Very Winter Looking Campsite Along East Canada Creek

3) NY 421 at Horseshoe Lake

NY 421 is an asphalt road, and there are 4 campsites prior to the gates for Horseshoe Lake Road and Lows Lower Dam Road. These gates will be closed, but the sites along NY 421 before the asphalt runs out should be good as long the snow is off of NY 421..

In the Wildflower Gardens

Six Miles to Horseshoe Lake

4) Mountain Pond

Mountain Pond Campsites are on an old routing of NY 30. While now unplowed in the winter, the road is mostly hard asphalt, asphalt chips, and gravel. Many of the campsites are reinforced with gravel, but be careful with some of the sites.

Campsite No 4

5) First Campsite on Wolf Lake Road.

There is a campsite on Wolf Lake Road, right before the parking area and winter road gate for Wolf Lake Road Extension. This campsite is grass, however if it’s relatively dry, snow and mud free, this is possiblity.

Adirondack Lakes

Roadside Campsite

6) Reeds Pond Campsite.

Before the black top runs out, there is a campsite along Reeds Pond, which is nice for it’s solitude, but nearness to a dirt road. The campsite may be muddy, depending on the conditions.

Beaver Flow State Forest

Reeds Pond

I Love Spring

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There are relatively few weeks of the year when it’s still relatively cool, and Upstate New York has the fresh color of spring.

Orange and Red

Where one can see bright oranges, reds and yellows in the tulip beds.

Red on Yellow

Whites, Oranges, and Greens.

White on Green

And while beautiful spring time weather will be replaced with summer weather within weeks, there is much to enjoy.

Park Benches in Springtime

Spring is such an amazing season.

Mount Utsayathana in Early Spring

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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.

Ice and Mud

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.

Truck Trail to Fire Tower

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.

Boot

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

Firetower and Radio Tower

View out of the Firetower windows.

Tower Windows

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

East

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

House at End of Township Valley

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.

North

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

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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.

South-West from Bennett Hill

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.

Farm Along Bennett Hill

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

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