Huyck Preserve-North Trails(Rensselaerville)

The Huyck Preserve located in the town of Rensselaerville is a popular preserve, with Rensselaerville Falls and Lake Myotosis as the centerpiece. I have hiked these trails several times in the past, always hitting the well known southern access points, being sure to take in the falls and lake views.  Few people realize, however, that there are over 2000 acres and 12 miles of trails at the preserve, with many of that residing in a remote northern section.  My plan today was to visit the secluded northern trails, which see far fewer visitors than its southern sections.  I parked in an unmarked pull off on the shoulder of Wood Road, a rough gravel road just south of Peasley Road where a kiosk sits back a few yards into the woods.  Almost directly across the road from the trailhead is a large dammed up area of Ten Mile Creek, which sits in the Partridge Run Wildlife Management Area.

 Just past the kiosk(trail maps are available), the Partridge Path- Loop Three begins.  You have the option to go either way, and I chose to turn left(north). The trails are very well marked and in remarkably good condition.  Elevation at the trailhead is roughly 1800 feet.

 This high elevation forest is laced with stone walls, which criss-cross the prserve.

 Passing through a pine plantation.

 At one point, Loop Three crosses under power lines, which affords some views to the nearby hillsides.

Loop Three comes to a connecting trail at a footbridge over Ten Mile Creek.

 All trail junctions are well marked at the preserve.  The connecting trail between Loop Three and Loop Two to the east is .25 miles.  Loop Two climbs up and over a knoll on its way to Loop One, which sits to the southeast.

 Just off trail a short distance is an old barrel of some kind.

 Loop One eventually drops down towards a beaver pond, which can be seen through the trees.  A very short bushwhack brings you to pleasant view.

 A serene scene.

 After leaving the beaver pond, Loop One skirts a beautiful, large meadow on the east side of the preserve.

 Views to the nearby hills across the meadow.

 A large,elderly white pine.

 Passing through a fern glade deep in the woods.

I eventually followed Loop One back to Loop Two, and then Loop Two back to Loop Three, following the southern legs of each.  Loop Three closely follows Ten Mile Creek, with its many picturesque cascades and pools.

 Got back to the trailhead again as evening set in.
Mileage for the trails are as follows:
Partridge Path Loop Three is 2.7 miles.  Partridge Path Loop Two is 1.2 miles, and Partridge Path Loop Oone is 1.5 miles.
Just uphill past the car on Wood Road is a gorgeous old cemetery, lined with stone walls.  I took a few moments to soak in the stark beauty of the scene.

Hiked 5.7 miles RT through a beautiful high elevation forest in rural western Albany County. 

Griffith Lake & Baker Peak Loop(Vermont)

Headed north to Vermont on a hot and humid day to hike up to Griffith Lake and Baker Peak in the heart of the Green Mountains.  To find the parking area, take Route 7 north from Manchester for 13 miles to South End Road on the right(east).  Turn here and follow this road for just under half a mile to the parking lot on the left.  The trail leaves from the southeast corner of the parking area just beyond a trail mileage sign.

 The trail is marked with blue blazes and starts out nice and gentle on an old road.

 Crossing over a tributary of McGinn Brook.

 A fast running drainage bathed in early morning light.

 The trail heads southeast, closely following the tributary, before turning sharply northeast.

 After about half a mile of hiking, the trail enters the 6720 acre Big Branch Wilderness.

About a mile into the hike, the trail passes over a well built footbridge across a section of steep side hill slab.

 Hand railing aids the hiker just past the foot bridge.

 About 1.9 miles into the hike, the trail crosses over the main branch of McGinn Brook.  Wet rocks can make this a bit tricky, but it is certainly doable. 

 Once across the brook the trail comes to a junction.  A left leads up one mile to Baker Peak, and a right heads towards the Long Trail and Griffith Lake. I turned right here, climbing steadily up beside the brook on a muddy trail.  This trail crosses over several small tributaries before eventually hitting drier ground.

 About 1.4 miles from the trail junction and 3.3 miles from the car, I arrived at the Long Trail.  Turning right(south) on the LT, the trail drops down to the shoreline of Griffith Lake in a short .2 miles.

Griffith Lake is a quiet, high elevation(2600 feet)backcountry body of water with a feeling of remoteness.

 I explored the shoreline for a bit, stopping to relax and have a bit to eat.

 Pink azaleas were really showing off their pretty colors near the lake.

After enjoying the water's edge for a while, I turned back, heading north on the Long Trail through mostly hardwoods.  The trail meanders along for nearly 2 miles before finally arriving at the Baker Peak Trail.  From here a trail sign points you directly up the steep rock slab up to the peak.

The last .2 miles up is a fun rock scramble with great views opening up behind you.

 Turning around, the views are outstanding.  Directly to the west, through the thick haze is 3770 foot Dorset Peak.  Elevation of Baker Peak is 2850 feet.  Mileage for the day at this point was about 5.6 miles.

 A look all the way down to South End Road where it leaves Route 7 near the parking area.

 Southwest views over the Otter Creek Valley and the Route 7 corridor.

 Route 7 can be seen way down in the valley below.

 Turning slightly to the northwest, the view encompasses the north end of Dorset Peak and the Danby countryside.

 

After enjoying the great views, I headed down the Baker Peak Trail one mile back to the brook crossing and then the Lake Trail all the way back to the car.

Glad to get back to the car on a sticky, hot, and humid day.  Total mileage of 8.6 miles RT, with 2350 feet elevation gain.

Burnt Rock to Camels Hump(Vermont)

Met up with my buddy Jim to do an ambitious four peak traverse in the Green Mountains of Vermont on a gorgeous late spring day.  We had to leave very early in the morning to spot a first car at the end of Camels Hump Road in North Duxbury, then drove south to Big Basin Road to the Hedgehog Brook Trailhead in North Fayston to park the second car and get started. The trailhead for Hedgehog Brook trail starts at an elevation of only about 1150 feet in a well marked parking area at the end of the driveable part of Big Basin Road.  The trail starts heading west from the parking lot past a trail sign.

Immediately after passing the trail sign, a ladder drops you down to a stream crossing over Shepard Brook....which would normally not be an issue...

...but the wet spring meant we had to ford the creek.  What better way to start an all day hike than by getting your feet wet right away?

Once across the creek, the Hedgehog Brook Trail ascends steadily to the west up through a hardwood forest.

Nearing the top of the Hedgehog Brook Trail, the trail steepens quite a bit..with help from a couple of ladders on the way up.

After about 2.2 miles and climbing about 1800 feet, we arrived at the Long Trail.  Camel's Hump is "only" 6.1 miles ahead.

We turned right(north) and followed the Long Trail towards Burnt Rock's summit.  The climb up from here was quite steep, but a lot of fun.

 

 Emerging atop open rock ledges.

Did I mention that the trail gets steep near the summit? 

Looking back down at a steep push up towards Burnt Rock.

Many open rock ledges provide outstanding views.

We found a nice view of the summit. just below it.

Jim heading up to the top.

From the 3168 foot summit of Burnt Rock Mountain, we found a terrific view north  towards our next three peaks for the day.  Mount Ira Allen's 3506 foot summit bump in the front, Ethan Allen's 3688 foot summit to its right, and Camel Hump's 4083 foot summit peeking out in the distance.  Over 2000 feet elevation gain from the trailhead.

Continuing beyond Burnt Rock Mountain, we continued north soon dropping down to Ladder Ravine. This is a tricky spot where good footing is essential.  There is about 8 feet of very slippery, wet rock on the way to the ladder, where a false step could drop you down about 12 feet.

The climb up and over both Mount Ira Allen(the trail doesn't cross the summit) and Mount Ethan Allen was pretty nondescript, passing through a fragrant balsalm forest near Mount Ethan Allen.  Unfortunately, it was on this section of the hike that the black flies really seemed to pick up in intensity.  Out came our head nets.

Mount Ethan Allen's north peak sign, where a man made clearing provides a view.

The view from Mount Ethan Allen.

The descent off Mount Ethan Allen was steady all the way down to about 2750 feet elevation.  Soo enough, we arrived at the Montclair Glen Lodge.  These Long Trail shelters are very nice, many with caretakers and fully enclosed.

As we climbed up a series of three steep, rocky "stairs" a great view of Mount Ethan Allen(which we had just hiked off of) opens up to the south.

From the open rock on the "stairs" there are some very, very nice views.

Onto the next "stair", looming directly above.

Some fun rock scrambling to ascend.

After reaching the third "stair", Camel Hump's summit bump can be clearly seen in front of you.  It seems much further away than it should.

Although our GPS told us we were just shy of the summit, our elevation was still only a bit over 3200 feet.  This meant that we had nearly 900 feet to climb up a rugged, rocky trail.

Emerging into an Alpine Area, just under the imposing summit bump of Camels Hump.

The last quarter mile of the hike is truly special.  Be mindful to watch white paint blazes on the open rock.

A thru-hiker on the Long Trail just ahead of us.

Heading up the steep pitches nearing the summit.

Emerging at a large area of open rock and small trees.  This was the final push to the summit.

A look back at another thru-hiker at a bend in the trail.  This photo really puts the sheer size of Camel's Hump in perspective. 

After a long, grueling day we arrived at the crowded summit of 4083 Camel's Hump, the third highest peak in Vermont.

The views from the summit are jaw dropping.  360 degree views will leave you breathless.  Here is a great view west towards Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks of New York.

A look way down below into the valley, some 3000 feet below.

A fantastic shot of me soaking in the view of the long ridgeline to the south that we had just hiked.

We explored the summit for quite a while, stopping to get some food and drink as well.  Unfortunately, the black flies became even worse up here, and the head nets didn't seem to stop them.  Once we got our fill, we dropped down to the Monroe Trail, which we followed all the way down nearly 3 and a half miles and about 2500 feet down to the first spotted car.

We arrived back at the car, quite exhausted, but also fulfilled.  A great 13 mile, 4 peak hike.  Elevation gain was nearly 4800 feet for the day.  The only drawback was the amount of black flies, which really got annoying.