Western Ridge Trail(Moreau Lake State Park- Saratoga County)

With temperatures soaring into the mid to upper 60's today, I couldn't wait to get out of work to do some exploring.  I headed north to hit 4531 acre Moreau Lake State Park along the Hudson River in rural Saratoga County.  There are many wonderful trails at this park, many of which I have previously explored, but today I wanted to revisit the Western Ridge Trail, my personal favorite here.  I parked in the small pull off along Spier Falls Road(County Route 24), but much to my surprise, the temperature here was only in the upper 40's!!  Snow covered woods and a cold pocket of air down along the river really shocked me.  I threw on a light jacket and headed out, opting to bare boot it with spikes in my bag just in case., elevation just 463 feet at the trailhead.  

An unmarked path leaves the parking area and heads right to a service road and gate, where you will pick up yellow blazes marking the start of the Western Ridge Trail.

There are two power line crossings along the way, as the trail gradually ascends through a mixed forest.  One nice part of the warmer temps, is the welcoming sounds of rushing water.

With a still mostly deep snow pack in the woods, the temperature was pleasantly cool, but there were small pockets of extremely mild air mixed in as well.  All of this meant that some sections of the trail were literally sheets of ice.  Thankfully it was just warm enough where you could gain purchase without the spikes.

After just under one mile of hiking, the trail comes to a sharp bend and an open ledge, where a spectacular view over the Hudson River unfolds before you.  Spier Falls Road and a boat launch can be seen down below, with the power line clearing heading west towards the Kayaderosseras Range in the distance.

The Hudson bends sharply here, turning northeast, with the southern Adirondacks as a backdrop.  This is a great spot to stop and soak in the majestic view.  Although you are at an elevation of less than 1000 feet here, you will feel like you are on top of the world.

This spot really is awesome!  There are many nooks and crannies to explore along these open ledges some 500 feet above the river.

 

From the viewpoint I continued on, gaining and losing more elevation and heading basically north/ northeast.  The snow was fairly deep in the woods up here, but the footing was good.

Signs of life from the thawing ice at a brook crossing.

After about one more mile, I came to my next viewpoint, looking straight out NW over Spier Falls Dam.  The Warren County/ Saratoga County line is basically split down the middle of the river here so everything north in this photo is Warren County.

NW views over the mostly wintry Hudson River into the southern Adirondacks.

Unfortunately had to turn around here because of my late start, retracing my steps uneventfully back to the car.  On the return hike, I noticed the conditions changing already, with increasingly running water on the trail, melting ice and softening snow.  Hiked a bit over 4 miles RT,with over 900 feet of total elevation gain along the way.  There are many other nice views along the Western Ridge Trail that I simply couldn't get to today...but there's always next time.

Mount Guardian(Byrdcliffe Colony-Catskills)

Decided to check out a small peak I had never been to, not on state land, but still accessible to the general public.  Mount Guardian rises to only 2100 feet and sits in the deep shadows of neighboring Overlook Mountain, so it shouldn't really come as much of a surprise that there isn't much press about it.  It is, however, a peak that I haven't been to, and already being in the area I figured I'd give it a look.  There is a barely noticeable trailhead and parking area along Upper Byrdcliffe Road, right beside the Byrdcliffe Theater.  

While conditions earlier in the day on Halcott Mountain were decidedly wintry, it was much more spring like as I set out here, elevation just over 1000 feet.  I decided to grab my spikes but bareboot it unless I hit icy spots higher up. Yellow blazes mark the way, as you cross over a road and head up into the woods.  There was barely any snow down low, with temperatures well over 50 degrees here.  The trail climbs slowly, angling NE, and at one point, I believe I was following some kind of old quarry road.

As I gained elevation, the mountain laurel became much thicker, encroaching on the trail.  There was a bit of snow through the thicker areas of mountain laurel as well.

At around 1900 feet, I came to a very nice viewpoint with the Ashokan Reservoir easily visible above the trees to the south.

Nearby, the SW view takes in Tonshi, Ticetonyck and Ashokan High Point.

The trail pretty much ends at the view points, but I decided to continue on, heading over towards the steep east cliffs.  From there, I enjoyed this view east into the Hudson Valley, with the southern ridge of Overlook Mountain sprawling out before me.

A nice and easy bushwhack brought me up to the 2100 foot summit, where the snow was still quite deep.   

Once back down on the marked trail, I made good time zooming along back down to the car. 

Didn't see another soul the entire hike, which was about 2.3 miles RT and over 1100 feet of elevation gain.  Spring is certainly in the air.

Halcott Mountain(Halcott Mountain Wild Forest-Catskills)

When March gives you a sun splashed 50 degree day, you get out and enjoy it!  I decided to re-visit 3537 foot Halcott Mountain,  a 3500 foot Catskill High Peak that I had hit several years ago.  Halcott has always been known as a mountain without any real views, but my goal for the day was to challenge that thought.  I was a bit surprised to be the only car in the lot in Deep Notch when I arrived at about 9:30am, but Ill take it!!  Starting at just under 1800 feet, the climbing commences immediately on a well trodden herd path.  I decided to throw my spikes on and carry my snowshoes for when I get up to the summit area.

Crossing over a small stream, that is beginning to awaken from a deep winter sleep.

As always, stone walls are a staple of nearly every Catskill hike.

As you quickly gain elevation, the woods are very open and offer up nice screened views back over Deep Notch.  All that was missing were the trail markers, as a nice snowshoe trench made for easy going closely following a drainage up.

One thing that I do remember about Halcott, is that the terrain is very steep.  It is a good workout, as you gain over 1700 feet in less than a mile and a half.

The open woods just below the summit.  A cool breeze was actually pretty gratifying as I had worked up a decent sweat.

Arriving at the summit canister. 

At the summit, I switched my spikes for snowshoes and headed south, dropping just a bit.  After a few minutes, I could see what I thought was a view...and I was right!  Who says Halcott doesn't have a view?  A nice south facing view with Rose Mountain front and center.

Unfortunately, just out of view from the clearing are the ski slopes of Belleayre, which can still be seen through the trees.

I snowshoed around the summit ridge, trudging through easily two feet of snow in search of more views.  Nothing more than some screened views over Deep Notch, however.  

As temperatures continued to warm, the descent was a bit of an adventure.  Back in the established trench, I was slip sliding my way down.  At one point, I butt slid for quite a distance, holding on for dear life.  Once back below 2500 feet, it was a pretty straightforward drop back towards the car.  

One more shot of an old stone wall, buried under deep snow, with Balsam Mountain towering above across Deep Notch.

Hiked a bit over 4 miles total, with over 1800 feet of ascent.  Most of the way was more or less a trailed hike, with some deep snowshoe bushwhacking at the top.

Dickinson Hill Fire Tower(Grafton Lakes State Park-Rensselaer County)

Headed up to into the Rensselaer County hills this afternoon to hike the Dickinson Hill Fire Tower at Grafton Lake State Park.  Bluebird skies and comfortable temps in the upper 20's greeted me as I arrived at the trailhead along Long Pond Road, elevation just under 1600 feet.  The drive in on Long Pond Road was okay, but a bit icy in spots.  I can certainly see this becoming more of a mud issue as our temperatures become much more spring like in the upcoming days.

The hike is really a nice and easy walk east along an old, abandoned town road that eventually leaves the State Park as it slowly climbs.  There are very few inclines at all, and the trail was nicely packed down by snowmobiles meaning spikes would suffice.

Informative signage regarding fire towers in the state can be found in various spots along the trail.

Located at the 1768 foot summit of Dickinson Hill, and constructed back in 1924, the 68 foot fire tower sits in a small clearing and is open to the public.

From the cab of the fire tower there are 360 degree views of the surrounding landscape.  The view north, here, takes in much of Washington County with the distant southern Adirondacks on the far horizon.

To the south and east, the Taconic ridgeline forms a vitual wall behind a State Police communications tower.

A unique view to the northeast into southern Vermont.

Clouds were unfortunately quickly rolling in as I attempted to capture the view to the SW.  Under clear conditions, the Catskills can easily be picked out on the horizon, but they were obscured today.

After enjoying the fire tower views, I headed back down, slowly losing elevation.  Near the park boundary I saw handsome old stone walls, mostly hidden beneath a still deep snow pack.

I really took my time on the return hike, enjoying a quiet stroll through the sun splashed woods.

Once back down to the car, I decided to continue down the short distance to Long Pond, which was still completely frozen over.  There was even one solitary ice fisherman out in the middle of the water.

Hiked about 3 miles RT, with over 400 feet of ascent(including the trip to Long Pond).  A very quiet and peaceful hike, as I only saw one other couple coming up the trail as I was heading down.

Albany-Hudson Electric Trail(Town of Nassau, Rensselaer County)

Checked out another small section of the new Albany-Hudson Electric Trail, starting in the village of Nassau on a cold, blustery late winter day.  There is ample parking along John Street at the Village Common near the Little League field, along with plenty of trail signage.  One thing that I have noticed from my visits to this new trail is that there are plenty of informative and sometimes historical boards along the way.  I really love this aspect of the trail.

I left the car heading south, first passing through part of the village before entering a quieter, wooded stretch.

A short distance in, the trail crosses over the Valatie Kill, a small creek that eventually empties into the Kinderhook Creek in the village of Valatie.  There are two well built footbridges over the creek in this stretch of the trail.

As I continued south, the main theme along the trail were large swaths of wetland.  Just to the west is the more expansive one, but I really liked this framed, bucolic view to the east.

The geese are on the move, signifying that spring must be near!  I was photo bombed by several large flocks as I was about to take a picture of this wetland. 

Turned around at Sweets Crossing Road and headed back north the way I had just came.  Walked a nice, brisk 3.5 miles total and only saw one other couple out the entire time.   I have been quite impressed so far in my visits to this trail, and makes a great local option to stretch my legs.

Potash Mountain(Harris Land Preserve, Lake Luzerne-Adirondacks)

Headed north after work today to revisit 1751 foot Potash Mountain, a small, but spectacular little peak in the southern Adirondacks.  My last time here was back when the trail was first becoming public several years ago now.  With temps in the upper 30's, overcast skies wouldn't deter me from enjoying the wonderful views I knew awaited me at the top.  I put my microspikes on and headed out from the trailhead(elevation just under 700 feet) at the corner of Potash and Dunkley Road's in Lake Luzerne.  There were no other cars there when I arrived, so it seemed I had the woods to myself.

The blue marked trail is part of the Harris Land Preserve and is fairly benign heading east/northeast and gradually climbing for the first half mile or so.   There is one particular area, just before getting into the serious climbing, that passes through a beautiful stand of white birch that is quite pleasing.

As the climbing commences, signage lets you know that you are entering NY state land.  Once on state land, the trail utilizes several switchbacks as it gains elevation very quickly up the steep slopes.

Just below the summit, the trail forms a large loop up and over the top of the mountain.  You can choose to go either right or left, but I assure you that you can't lose either way!  I decided to turn left, climbing north, up towards the vast open ledges just below the summit, where the views will leave you in awe.  From here, when you finally pick your jaw up off the ground, the views are nearly 180 degrees.  From  the NW facing ledges, the west ridge of Thomas Mountain is nearby right, with a multitude of other peaks stretching as far as the eye can see.

Just a few feet away are the amazing south facing views, with wintry Fourth Lake to the left.

From a bit higher up, the view is even broader, stretching further NW into the southern Adks. 

A very short distance  above the open views, and just a bit higher, is the nondescript 1751 foot summit.  A clear high spot, complete with a sign to avoid confusion.

I continued on the summit loop, dropping down the steep SE slopes up high.  From here, there are several views in a direction you don't see from the wide open ledges.  While not quite as spectacular, they are still quite nice.

Glad I had my microspikes for the descent on this side of the summit trail.  There are continued great views all around you as you steadily lose elevation, and soon close the loop.

On my way back down the mountain, I heard some voices up ahead, which ended up being a group of teenage boys.  Having no traction devices, they were clearly struggling with their footing and I was nervous for them.  Luckily they made the good decision to turn back before they got to the real steep slopes above and everyone made it home ok. Hiked a little over 3 miles RT with 1100 feet of ascent.