Mount Overrocker(Silver Lake Wilderness-Adirondacks)

Took advantage of a small window of time this morning to do a little off trail hiking to 2132 foot Mount Overrocker, a small peak near Wells in the Southern Adirondacks.  Parked in an unmarked pull off on the shoulder of Gilmantown Road just past a bridge crossing(Elevation 1350 feet) and headed west into the woods, quickly coming to a crossing over Elbow Creek.  This was a bit tricky due to the high water, but manageable.

The ascent was pretty straightforward, following a small drainage through open woods.

 

After a steady climb, I circled around towards the steep SE facing ledges below the summit.

With the trees not fully leafed out yet, there are decent screened views to be found, especially down towards Wells.

Just below the summit, I hit the "summit fortress".

A vernal pond on the summit ridge.

Looking east from the summit, with a view towards the many peaks in the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, as well as a sliver of Lake Algonquin.

Arriving at the open 2132 foot summit.

Just beyond the summit, a short drop brought me down to an open set of ledges facing west towards neighboring Round Mountain.

SW views towards nearby Mount Orrey(distance) and an unnamed ridge in the front.

A framed view NW from a second, smaller ledge.

After enjoying the ledge views, I headed back east, descending to the crossing of Elbow Creek and then onto my waiting car.

Hiked about 2.5 miles RT, with 750 feet of ascent.  A short but fun day back in the Adirondack woods.

Map below.  Red X=Parking  Blue X=Summit

Albert Community Forest(Town of Nassau, Rensselaer County)

Did a very short walk at the Albert Community Forest in rural East Nassau on a brisk mid April evening.  With temps hovering around 40 degrees, I kept up a good pace.

Wandered the woods with no particular intent other than enjoying some solitude and fresh air.

Covered about 2.5 miles total and had the woods to myself the entire time.
 

Flat Rock Hill(Savoy Mountain State Forest, Town of Florida-Berkshires)

Headed into the northern Berkshires to hike 2195 foot Flat Rock Hill, an obscure peak in the town of Florida, high above Route 2(The Mohawk Trail) on an unusually warm spring day.  The temperature was rapidly rising through the mid 70's in the early morning as I arrived at my starting point along South County Road.  I parked near the beginning of South County Road(Elevation 1800 feet), which is an unmaintained secondary road, and walked just over a half mile along the rough road to a spot where a snowmobile trail heads north into the woods.

The snowmobile trail isn't really marked but does have occasional flagging and is easy to follow as it meanders its way up Flat Rock Hill's south ridge.  There were some patches of snow here and there but the recent warmth has taken care of most of it.

The snowmobile trail comes close to but not up to the actual summit, which was a short bushwhack away.  The true summit is wooded and offers no views.

From the true summit, it was a short bushwhack back to the snowmobile trail and then about 3/10 of a mile further north I came to a power line crossing at an unnamed 2230 foot high spot on the ridge. This high spot could actually be considered a south sub summit of nearby Whitcomb Hill and offers up great views.  To the west/ southwest the views take in the nearby Hoosac Range and all the way to Mount Greylock towering in the distance.

A zoom view towards Greylock with the power lines cutting through the hills of Savoy.

From the opposite side of the power lines, a short walk away, is a great view northeast into the rolling hills of nearby Monroe and Rowe.  Pine Cobble is to the right of the power line cut with Upper Reservoir Bear Swamp being the body of water visible just right of center.

Just north, a short distance beyond the power line views, are remnants from the Hoosac Tunnel, which was cut through these hills back in the late 19th century.  A pretty neat find.

 

Turned around at the Hoosac Tunnel remnants and retraced my steps back off the mountain.  A little over 4 miles Round Trip for the day and over 600 feet of combined ascent.  Didn't see another soul on this very warm, summer like day.

Map below.  Red P=Parked Car  Red X=Flat Rock Hill summit  Blue X=Power Line Views

Van Wyck Mountain(Sundown Wild Forest & Slide Mountain Wilderness-Catskills)

Whoever said parenting was easy never had kids...it's completely exhausting and very time consuming.  It's been quite a while since I've been able to get out hiking but Monday finally presented a chance so I took advantage by revisiting 3206 foot Van Wyck Mountain, one of my favorite Catskill Hundred Highest peaks.  The mountain is trail-less meaning it would be a bushwhack hike, which also meant I'd probably have the woods to myself.  I parked at the Trailer Field parking area between where Bear Hole Brook and Rondout Creek cross Peekamoose Road(Elevation 1200 feet).  From there I headed north into the woods, quickly picking up a good woods road, which climbed high above Bear Hole Brook.

Woods roads zig zag the lower slopes of Van Wyck, and I even stumbled across a large old stone foundation.

I followed the woods roads until they petered out and then began more typical Catskill bushwhacking.

Once above 2500 feet, the first spotty snow began to appear and the terrain really began to level out.

Further north along the ridge I came upon the remnants of a 1977 plane crash, where all of the occupants perished.  This isn't typically something I go out of my way to find, but it is still interesting to see.

Just below the summit, the slopes get extremely steep-almost vertical.  I decided to tackle it head on as there were enough boulders and trees to aid in my ascent.

After scratching and clawing my way up the steep slopes, it was just a little further to the open ledge near the summit, with some of the best Caskill views to be had anywhere.  Table and Peekamoose Mountains look close enough to touch just east across the valley.

To the south, the southern Catskills dominate the view with the long ridge of snowy Samson and Bangle Hill(E-W running in the center)as well as the multiple peaks of East Mountain in the Sundown Wild Forest just beyond.

From the ledge looking NE, with Slide Mountain now visible in the distance(far left).

A very short distance from the ledge sits the nondescript 3206 foot summit of Van Wyck.

Instead of heading straight down the vertical slopes I had come up, I headed west along Van Wyck's summit ridge, skirting cliff bands with decent views to the south.

To the SW, Woodhull Mountain(right) and Red Hill(distant center) can be seen.

From one small ledge, I found this neat view of Van Wyck's south ridgeline.

After a bit, the steepest cliff bands ended and it was time to carefully weave my way back down the mountain.  This was where I began my daunting descent, but once beyond this drop, the terrain eased up considerably. 

Open hardwoods made for a nice and easy hike back down the mountain and to the woods road I had been on earlier.  I decided to pay a visit to picturesque Bear Hole Brook, which sits in a deep ravine below the woods road.

Several small falls and cascades made for a very pleasant walk along the brook.  Unfortunately, the terrain became too difficult to explore so I had to claw my way back out of the ravine and back onto the woods road-which lead me back to the car.

Hiked about 7.5 miles RT(all bushwhack), with over 2000 feet of ascent.  Didn't see another soul on a picture perfect early spring day.

Map attached.  Red P=Parking  Red X=Summit