Stevens Glen(Berkshires)

With a small window of time this afternoon I got out for a quick walk to Stevens Glen, which straddles the West Stockbridge/ Richmond town line in the Berkshires.  The 128 acre property is owned and managed by the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, and was donated by the Pryor family back in 1995.  With temps approaching 40 degrees, it was a great day for a hike.  Parking is alongside Lenox Road in a small pull off just below a BNRC sign.  From there, the trail begins at a set of stairs that drop down into the woods and past a kiosk.

 The trail drops over 320 feet through a hemlock forest, which was covered in a coating of ice and snow, making footing tricky in spots.

 Took a left(clockwise) at the first trail junction and again where a spur trail turns left towards the Glen.

 Crossing a partially frozen, small tributary of Lenox Mountain Brook.

 From a beautiful foot bridge, there is a fine view of frozen Lenox Mountain Brook.

 Ascending up a series of stone steps into the sunshine and towards the Glen.

A great view directly into Stevens Glen.

 Looking down directly into the steep gorge from a viewing platform.

There are several well built foot bridges throughout the preserve.  This spot provides an impressive view of a frozen stream.

After returning from the spur trail, I turned left, uphill, and eventually completing the loop trail. 

Hiked about 1.6 miles RT on a very nice, comfortable January day.

Bearpen Mountain(Catskills)

Headed down to the Catskills on a bitterly cold morning to hike up 3600 foot Bearpen Mountain.  There are no marked trails to the summit, but there are several different easy approaches following old woods roads.  I opted to hike from the north, from Heisinger Road, which is the shorter but steeper way to the summit.   From County 2 in Prattsville, continue south for about 2.7 miles to a fork in the road, where you will bear right onto Don Erwin Road.  After only about .2 of a mile, turn left onto Heisinger Road.  Follow this to the end and park along either side of the road.
Here is a view from County Route 2 north of Bearpen's long ridge line.

 The end of Heisinger Road where parking is available.  Do not block the private driveway at the very end of the road.  The trail starts past the gate on the left side of the road. 

A beautiful, partially frozen stream flows beside the parking area.

 The trail is actually just a woods road, that climbs steadily up over 1700 feet in 2.7 miles.

At a bend in the road, stay left, where the ascent continues.  The only other tracks in the snow were canine.

 The bright morning sun slowly warmed temperatures onto the plus side of zero.  As I climbed in all my gear, however, I began to warm up quite nicely.

 A switchback well up the mountain, where incredibly there was still only about an inch or so of snow on top of a crusty ice.

 Arriving at a clearing with very nice views just below the summit area.

Great view north with the Schoharie Reservoir  visible just over a nearby ridge line.

Bearpen Mountain was once a popular ski area, and even today, there are remnants of the old equipment still found rusted in the woods.

 Looking directly down one of the old ski slopes, with County Route 2 easily seen winding below.

 The top of one of the old ski runs with its incredible views.

A small clearing provides a fantastic view to the north towards Prattsville.

Great views to the west, with fierce winter winds blowing directly in my face.

 Beyond the snow capped trees, Plattekill Mountain's ski slopes can be made out to the southwest.

Views down over rural Roxbury and Delaware County farmland.

The trees all along the summit area were covered in snow.  The sun filled bright blue skies made a great contrast as the backdrop.

The snow filled view west from Bearpen's 3600 foot summit area.  The true summit is a bit further back into the woods, but because it is such a flat area can be hard to distinguish the exact spot.

Northwest views towards Roundtop Mountain.

 The sun shining brightly above the snow covered trees.

 Ice covered slopes along the trail.

 Even though the temps had only climbed up to near 10, the bright sun and lessening wind, made it feel almost comfortable.

 Nearing the parking area on the lower slopes of the trail, with Bearpen towering above.

Arrived back at the car, ready to get some of my gear off.  Hiked 5.4 miles RT on a very cold January morning.

Lebanon Springs Road(Taconics)

Did a short hike up Lebanon Springs Road access road, just over the Massachusetts state line, which leads up the west side of the Taconic Mountains to Pittsfield State Forest.  The road, in use by 4 wheel drive vehicles less than a generation ago, is now a trail which provides access to the Taconic Crest Trail.  To find it, drive to Main St in the hamlet of Lebanon Springs just east off Route 22 in New Lebanon, then bear left onto Old Mountain Road and follow it uphill to the very end. A private driveway bears left and unmarked Lebanon Springs Road leads right just past a large pile of sticks and branches.

 The trail is wide and easily recognizable as an old road.  A couple hundred yards in, the trail meets up with a private road from the left.  Continue right here.

 The trail gradually climbs uphill with a rather steep drop off to the right.

 There are many old culverts and pipes found along the way.

 Some areas of the road have been severely washed out over the years.

 Continuing a very quiet woods walk along the eroded road.

 More rusted out old piping.

 Fallen trees clog some sections of the trail.

There are no substantial views to be had along the way, but screened views can be had during the winter time with the leaves off the trees.

 Looking back to the south and east, with broken views down into the valley.

 A sharp drop off to the south, where nearby ridge lines can be easily made out.

While the trail is easily followed most of the time, there are blue discs found sporadically along the way.

After about 1.1 miles, the sounds of rushing water become audible.  This is an unnamed brook running steeply down a ravine.

 Right beside the brook is a sign for Lebanon Springs Road. 

 This marks the terminus of the Lebanon Springs Access Road and where it meets up with the Taconic Crest Trail at an elevation of 1577 feet.

 

A large, rusted out old culvert leads the rushing water downstream here. 

 I continued south on the Taconic Crest Trail for a short distance, where the trail eventually leads to Twin Ponds and eventually Route 20.

 I also continued about a quarter mile north on the Taconic Crest Trail, where Berry Pond is eventually found a little over 3 miles north.

Turned back here, retracing my steps back down to the car.  Hiked about 2.4 miles RT on a cloudy but comfortable winter day.