Buttercup Farm Audubon Sanctuary(Stanfordville, NY)

Visited the 641 acre Buttercup Farm Audubon Sanctuary, located just south of Pine Plains along Route 82 in the northeast corner of Dutchess County on a mild, bluebird winter day. There is also an additional parking area located along the west side of the Sanctuary on Mountain Road, which can be reached via Stissing Road just south of the the Route 82 parking area.  Had the place to myself as I broke out the snowshoes and hit the trail.

 

Headed east past the kiosk on a red marked trail, which crosses over a small stream and hugs the northern edge of the property.

The red trail swings south soon meeting up with the white trail and providing some very nice views back north towards Stissing Mountain.

 

Passing by old barbed wire fence and a ravine.  Snow was mostly crusty and about 10 inches deep.

 

Much of the Sanctuary is open fields, which provides great views.  Here's a glimpse west with the Catskills peaking out in the distance.

 

A look northeast from the open fields towards rolling hills and beautiful homes.

 

Northwest view towards Stissing Mountain and its smaller, northern neighbor, Little Stissing Mountain.

 

Old fences serve as reminders of the lands history as a former farm.

 

Looking north with  the parking lot way down below the field.

 

A pair of benches make for an incredible spot to stop and soak in the view.  Stissing Mountain's long ridge line is the most prominent feature of this north facing vista.

 

A zoomed view north into Pine Plains.

 

Dropping down from the open fields into a tunnel of hardwoods back towards Route 82.

 

Winter berries and bluebird skies.

 

Crossed Route 82 to the western side of the Sanctuary, where there are more open fields.  This aging barn's day must be numbered.

 

The open fields soon enter a stand of evergreens, and I followed a side yellow trail to a picturesque gazebo, nestled among them.

Emerging from the woods on the yellow trail, I enjoyed a look back southeast towards the hills I had just climbed on the other side of the Sanctuary.

A stone tower stands proudly in the woods with the name Buttercup etched into the doorway.

I dropped down out of the woods and soon arrived along a quiet, meandering stretch of wintry Wappinger Creek.

Wetland along Wappinger Creek.

I followed a white trail south for a short distance and then picked up a red marked trail which circles a peaceful, frozen pond.

The area around the pond is surrounded by wetlands as well as some nice frontage on Wappinger Creek.

A bridge crossing over Wappinger Creek.  There are trails west of here that lead towards the Mountain Road parking area, but I decided to turn back here.

Heading back towards the parking lot, enjoying more open fields and farm relics along the way.

Hiked about 4.5 miles RT at a beautiful Sanctuary, where there is a little bit of everything for everyone.  The terrain is diverse but not overly challenging and made for great snowshoe conditions.

Mud Pond Preserve(Nassau)

Following yesterday's snowstorm, Kalli and I decided to get out for a nice, local snowshoe walk this afternoon after work.  We stopped by the Mud Pond Preserve located at 591 Central Nassau Road and parked in the freshly plowed parking lot.  Our friendly town plow driver said we were the first to hit the trail and then waved and drove away.

 Crossing a snow covered bridge.

The 11 inches of new snow has already compacted a little bit, but still made a very pleasant snowshoe hike.

 Dropped down on the overlook trail to the only view(mostly obscured) of Mud Pond.

 We then picked up the Casey Farm Trail through the wintry woods.

 Quiet winter woods.

 The Casey Farm trail emerges into an open field, which is the back side of the Town Transfer Station. Full sunshine nearly blinded us coming out of the deep woods.

 Wind blown patterns in the snow.

 Snowshoeing back to the car.

We hiked about 1.3 miles total on a sunny but cool winter afternoon.

Cradle Rock Ridge, Mill Brook Ridge, Woodpecker Ridge(Catskills)

Headed down to the Southwest Catskills to hike three more of the Catskill Hundred Highest Peaks on what was forecast to be a very nice winter day.  Met up with my bud Jim and we left a car along Beaverkill Road at the southern foot of Woodpecker Ridge, then proceeded to drive back to Cross Mountain Road to park a second car.  We got all geared up, opting to don microspikes instead of snowshoes and headed off beyond the gated road to Alder Lake.  Elevation of around 2200 feet at the start of the hike.

 A short distance down the road we arrived at the site of the former Coykendall Mansion.  The state razed the mansion back in 2008 and left only the stone remains behind.

 A look at the former fireplace inside the mansion that likely served to take the chill off cold, winter days like this.

 Gorgeous and solidly frozen Alder Lake spreads out just below the former estate.

 We crossed the dam on the west side of the lake and skirted the south side of the lake on a marked trail.  About half a mile into the hike, we left the trail and began our bushwhack south up the slopes of Cradle Rock Ridge.  As we gained elevation we began to notice screened views towards Mill Brook Ridge's western bump back over Alder Lake to the north.

 Looking northwest towards Cross Mountain Road's meandering route north.

 After about 1.5 miles we arrived at 3160 foot Cradle Rock Ridge's wooded summit.  Bluebird skies and about three inches of fresh snow greeted our arrival at the top.

 A view southeast at the summit area under sunny skies.

 We enjoyed the summit for a few minutes before dropping down the north side of the mountain about 600 feet, soon arriving at wintry Alder Creek.  We easily rock hopped across the creek and soon picked up a yellow marked DEC trail again.

 Followed the yellow marked trail east past the first of three larger beaver meadows.

At the far northwest end of the second Beaver Meadow is a Lean To, where we chose to stop and enjoy lunch.

 Can't think of a much prettier or secluded spot for a lean to than this area.

 After enjoying lunch, we continued northeast on the trail, passing below the steep rock ledges of Mill Brook Ridge's cliffs.

 The climb up towards Mill Brook Ridge is steady, gaining nearly 900 feet in less than a mile.  As we gained elevation, particularly on this ridge, the snow got deeper(about 8 inches), but nothing to really slow us down.

 After passing over the 3480 foot nondescript summit of Mill Brook Ridge, we dropped off the northeast side of the peak and into its col with Woodpecker Ridge.  Caught some nice peek a boo views north towards the Mill Brook Valley.

 A few minutes east of the col, we arrived at a small rock ledge and clearing, affording nice views.

 Seems that trees have grown up in recent years, somewhat obscuring the vista that once was.  I had to climb on top of the large rock to gain a better look southwest over Beecher Lake with Cradle Rock Ridge to the right and Woodpecker Ridge to the left.

 We left the trail just after the view point, heading south towards Woodpecker Ridge.  Enjoyed screened winter views to the west along much of the way as we side hilled our way due south. 

 Woodpecker Ridge has two distinct 3460 foot peaks, separated by a mere .1 of a mile.  The east side of the first summit bump on Woodpecker Ridge provides a glimpse through the bare trees towards Balsalm Lake's 3700 foot mountain and its fire tower.

 Between the two summit bumps is a large, flat clearing scattered with yellow birch.

 As we arrived at the second 3460 wooded summit we paused to take a look at our clocks and realized it was already 4:45pm and still had over two miles to go back to the car.  We picked up our pace, dropping steadily south and then west down towards Beaver Kill Road.  The late afternoon setting sun made a faithful companion all the way back.

Arrived at the road just after sunset, and then hiked west about half a mile back to the car.  10 miles total and 2200 feet elevation gain.  63 out of 102 Catskill high peaks complete(28/67).

West Mountain and Smith Mountain(Pittsfield State Forest-Berkshires)

Had some time after work, so headed to the nearby Pittsfield State Forest to bushwhack a couple of peaks just over the state line in Massachusetts.  I drove to the very end of West Street, a short distance past Berkshire Community College and parked there with the goal of hiking the old discontinued Lebanon Springs Road east for a half mile before beginning my bushwhack north.  Unfortunately, I left the camera's card at home so I was stuck using my cell phone for photos. 
Hiking up the old road.  Elevation at trail head was about 1220 feet.

After leaving the old road/ trail, I headed north through a hardwood forest and a light, fluffy 3 inches of snow atop hard, crusty snow.  Looking back southeast through the bare trees.

 Nearby Doll Mountain sitting just to the south.

The climb up West Mountain is steady but not difficult.  Here are some more screened views west towards New York.  Did see a lot of coyote tracks on West Mtn.

 Reached the wooded 1950 foot summit of West Mountain after about 1.7 miles.  At least I thought it was fully wooded.

Just a few yards east of the summit is a man made clearing with a great view east towards OnotaLake and Pittsfield.  I had no idea this view was here and will have to come back with my good camera for better photos.

 Continuing north past West Mountain, there were still screened views towards New York state.

 Up and over a small unnamed bump between West and Smith Mountain.

 After about 2.7 miles arrived at 2170 foot Smith Mountain's wooded, but fairly open summit area.

 Dropped north off of Smith Mountain with a some peek a boo views northwest.

 A soon picked up the Taconic Skyline Trail and followed that south.  Just about 20 yards off trail, I discovered a large beaver pond. 

 Continued south on the Taconic Skyline Trail until taking a left onto the CCC Trail far below West Mountain's summit.  The CCC Trail drops deep between Doll Mountain and West Mountain following Lily Brook heading south then east.  Eventually I met back up with my original tracks and followed them east back to my car at the end of West Street.

Very disappointed that I didn't have use of my good camera for this trip.  A little over 5 miles RT with about 1200 feet elevation gain.