Murphy Vly and Murphy Lake No Name Cliffs(Wilcox Lake Wild Forest-Adirondacks)

 Headed up into the Adirondacks to do some exploring to Muphy Vly and an impressive set of No Name Cliffs, just east and above Muphy Lake in a quiet corner of the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest.  Parked at campsite off of Pumpkin Hollow Road(Elevation 1395 feet), about 1.1 mile past the trailhead for Murphy Lake and quickly picked up a hunters path, heading south.  The path is obvious and in very good condition making it quite easy to follow.

An easy rock hop crossing over  Doig Creek on the hunters path. 

The path continues past Doig Creek for a spell, heading more easterly, before petering out in a notch between Freds Mountain and Pine Mountain.  From there, I picked up on again/ off again herd path's here and there but it was a pretty straightforward bushwhack SE towards Murphy Vly.

Arriving at the west shore of Murphy Vly, with a view SE.

I circled around the north end of the vly, contouring my way to the more scenic east shore and stellar views from a beaver dam.

Explored a small point on the Vly, which had a nice clearing and would make a fantastic lunch spot.

Looking west across the Vly, with fall's fleeting colors on the opposite shoreline.

I explored the entire distance of the eastern side of the Vly, taking in numerous scenic water views, including this was to the NW.  This entire area feels a million miles away from everything and makes a wonderful destination on its own.

After finally leaving the Vly, I continued on, basically bushwhacking south, staying on the eastern slopes above the outlet stream, remaining in open hardwoods.

After about 6/10 of a mile, I began to head SE up the unnamed hill east of Muphy Lake.  The climbing was gentle at first but got much more aggressive near the cliffs, with a sheer drop off and a series of ledge bands.  At about 1900 feet, I arrived at a small, but impressive cliff and viewpoint.  The view takes in Murphy Lake and Sturgis Mountain above to the west.

From a second, slightly larger ledge, I found a broad view south towards Middle Lake and the Great Sacandaga Lake beyond.

Zoom view of the Great Sacandaga with fall colors ablaze.

From the same ledge, looking SW towards Cathead , Wallace and Three Ponds Mountains in the distance.

A short, easy bushwhack brought me up to the 2050 foot summit above the No Name Cliffs.

Heading back down, I  poked around the cliffs and found many views-some good, mostly filtered, but all featuring a nearly vertical drop down towards the lake.

Enormous cliff bands dot this small peak.

Back down on the trail by Muphy Lake, found some very good views back east towards the No Name Cliffs.

After leaving the lake, I followed the blue blazed DEC trail through the woods heading north/ northeast, where I passed by a couple of day hikers and a group of mountain bikers.

After an uneventful but pleasant 3.2 miles on the trail, I arrived back at Pumpkin Hollow Road and the trailhead for Murphy Lake.  From there, I walked a little over a mile east on the road, and back towards my car.

After the quiet road walk, where I didn't see another soul, I arrived back at the campsite and my waiting car, thankful for a wonderful day in the woods.   Covered a total of about 7.3 miles of combined herd path, bushwhack, marked trail and road walk, with 850 feet of climbing.

Map below.  Blue P=Parking.     Red Star=Murphy Vly.      Blue Stars=Cliffs over Muphy Lake

Cole Hill State Forest(Town of Berne, Albany County)

Headed up into the Albany County hill towns with my youngest son today to walk a section of the Long Path in the Cole Hill State Forest on a highly changeable weather day.  Parked at an unmarked State Forest pull off(Elevation 1540 feet) along Cole Hill Road(CR 2) and headed west past a kiosk on the Long Path.  The trail through this stretch remains fairly level, with only slight ups and downs as it makes its way to a  pretty bridge crossing.

We took a few minutes to enjoy the water views before eventually continuing on, past stone walls along the edge of the wetland.

Stream crossing.

Heading SW along the Long Path near Willsie Road.

Even under an overcast sky, the fall colors were quite vibrant, especially near the wetlands.

Avenue of the Pines.

One last glimpse at the wetland before crossing back over the footbridge.

This spot is usually very scenic, but a quick hitting storm was rapidly approaching, with strong winds and dark clouds rushing in, making the wetland somewhat less picturesque.

Scooped up my son and scampered back the last hundred yards or so as the skies opened up.  We escaped mostly dry, covering about 2 miles RT.   Oddly enough, about five minutes later blue skies returned and any rain was long gone.

Dunham Reservoir(Grafton Lakes State Park-Town of Grafton, Rensselaer County)

Did a little hike with my one year old at Grafton Lakes State Park up on the Rensselaer Plateau on an overcast but comfortable October morning.  I parked along Route 2(Elevation 1420 feet) at the unmarked trailhead for the Gartlers Trail and headed south through the open meadows, with foliage popping down below in the wetlands.  The fall colors are actually progressing quite nicely at these higher elevations.

The Gartlers Trail crosses the open fields before entering a picturesque woodland, ablaze in a myriad of fall color.

Nearing the Reservoir, the trail offers up a gorgeous view of the Quacken Kill.

The placid Quacken Kill, surrounded by fall foliage.

The trail eventually arrives at Johnson Road, a seasonal dirt access road, which provides direct access to the Dunham Reservoir.  This was my turn around spot for the day, as light rain and ominous skies became more threatening.  

A uneventful, but tranquil walk back on the Gartlers Trail brought me back to my car as the rain thankfully held off. Unfortunately all of the recent wet weather meant that the trail was in a general wet state anyway, so no way to avoid muddy boots.  Covered about 2.5 miles total on a nice fall day.

Ledges on SW Harrington Mountain(Wilcox Lake Wild Forest-Adirondacks)

Headed north for a part trail/ part bushwhack adventure through mostly off the beaten path woods to an  obscure set of ledges on a SW flank of Harrington Mountain in the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest.  Early fall conditions were nearly perfect with no humidity, temps in the upper 50's, and the foliage beginning to put on its annual display.  

Got started from an unmarked parking area off the east side of Route 8(Elevation 1367 feet), and jumped onto the red blazed Oregon Trail, which sits just a few yards from the pull off.  As I entered the woods, the sounds of passing cars quickly dissipates.

The trail follows an old tote road generally east, then southeast, arriving at a pretty clearing along Stewart Creek after about 7/10 of a mile.

The next stretch of trail is both picturesque and quite flooded, with a large beaver dam causing one to leave the marked trail and (briefly)detour into the woods to keep dry feet.

A short distance beyond, comes a snowmobile bridge crossing and a wonderful, sprawling view south across the flow.

Snowmobile bridge over Stewart Creek.

The next stretch of trail hugs the east banks of the flow, but set back far enough that views through the trees are limited.  Unfortunately the trail conditions quickly deteriorate from here, with blowdown obliterating several stretches.

After fighting my way through and around large sections of deadfall,  I decided to abandon the trail and bushwhack down to the outskirts of the flow, with far reaching views being my reward.

Stewart Creek meanders through these wetlands, with fall colors popping along this particular stretch.

Eventually I headed back into the woods, finding my way back to the trail and the next bridge crossing.

From the bridge, looking northeast across a spot known as Rathburn Swamp.

The bridge was my chosen spot to leave the trail and bushwhack northeast, slowly ascending and contouring around a small summit bump on my way towards the open ledges that I was heading to.

A short, steep bushwhack from the col brought me up to the open ledge views around 2150 feet.  Views from here are quite nice to the south.

SW views towards Smith, Georgia and Moose Mountains.

Instead of descending the same way I came up, I decided to continue north through the saddle and head down to a chain of gorgeous beaver meadows.

Making my way over to a spot where a couple of bumps on Harrington Mountain's west slopes form a beautiful backdrop over the placid water in the beaver meadow below.  Exploring these large beaver meadows may have been the true highlight of the day.

A surprisingly scratchy bushwhack west dropped me back down to the trail, where I was able to capture one more view across the flow, this time in the afternoon light.

It was smooth sailing back on the trail to the car, as I took my time soaking in the perfect fall conditions.  Covered a little over 6.5 miles total, with 1100 feet of combined ascent-and didn't see another soul in the woods all day.

Map below.  P=Parking        Blue Star=Began bushwhack from Rathburn Swamp.   Blue Dot=Large Wetland.    Ledges Noted in Blue