Albert Community Forest(East Nassau)

Visited the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance's 353 acre Albert Community Forest in East Nassau after work this afternoon, on a pleasant but cloudy winter day.  The Community Forest, found at the very end of Hayes Road just north of the hamlet of East Nassau, roughly marks the southern boundary of the Rensselaer Plateau.  Elevation at the parking area is about 870 feet, and a fine coating of snow and ice covered the ground.
I began on the orange blazed Cascades Trail, which passes by stoic old stone walls on its way along  a pretty brook. 

The trail ambles along the mostly frozen brook, with running water running just beneath the ice.

The orange trail winds its way for 3/4 of a mile, passing through a small ravine and dark hemlock woods along the brook. 

Followed the orange trail to its end, back at Hayes Road, which I followed to the blue blazed Homestead Trail on the north side of the road.  I took the Homestead Trail all the way to the Forest's northern boundary, where the trail bends east along an old road.

The blue marked trail loops back south to the shore of a large wetland.  This makes for a pleasant spot to stop and relax for a couple of minutes.

The wetland sprawling towards the north reaches of the Forest.

After completing the 1.17 mile blue trail, I quickly jumped onto the yellow blazed Orchard Trail, which climbs steadily to the east.  Within just a couple minutes, I arrived at another trail junction.  Here, I swung left onto the white blazed trail called Susan's Ramble, in honor of the late Susan Roberts.  This trail climbs even higher up onto the plateau, where, through the bare winter trees, distant ridge lines can be made out.

At a high point in the forest, over 1100 feet in elevation, I discovered more stone walls and a bit more snow.

Susan's Ramble wanders far up into the northeast corner of the Forest entering some very dark hemlock woods. There is certainly a greater feeling of remoteness on this part of the hike.

Hugging the east edge of the Forest, I soon arrived at a rough discontinued section of Hayes Way. 

As I wandered these quiet, stoic woods I really soaked in the surrounding forest.  These dark hemlock woods are much cooler than the surrounding areas and are very rugged and stone filled.  Yet, a hundred years ago, hardy farmers tried their best to live off this land.  These vast woods that make up this Community Forest are a great example of the typical woodland that makes up much of the Rensselaer Plateau.

Back on the yellow blazed trail, I finally passed through what looked like the orchards that are the trails namesake. 

Near the orchards, I found crumbling structures that look like they may have served as storage sheds.

Inside the dilapidated structure.

A short distance away, a larger building, in much better condition(but still in a state of decay) sits abandoned as well. 

A final turn left brought me back over a bridge crossing the brook and up to my car.

 A very enjoyable stroll just a few minutes from my house.  The RPA has done a terrific job building new trails since my last visit and there really is much to see here.  Hiked about 4.5 miles total.