Get Thee To A Mountain

My last post about a fun choral weekend drew both some troubling responses and some encouraging ones. Indeed, I am not out of the closet at work and my job might be in jeopardy if I was outed, but I can't imagine anyone there would stumble onto my blog. Also, it doesn't seem to me that I shared anything about which I should feel ashamed. I posted about a community chorus singing in two churches with at least 5 pastors and former pastors in attendance. That doesn't seem like a bad thing to me. Hardly X-rated.

So I began fretting after it posted. But then I also began worrying that I'd posted photos of my singing partner without his explicit permission. I called him but got no answer. I was working myself into a froth, so I decided to battle the negative emotions with productive activity. I got busy in the back yard pulling weeds until about 1:00 and then did what always cures my distress. I had to get me to a mountain. There, I was sure to clear my mind and soothe my spirit. When life gets complicated, I know that a mountain will help. It restoreth my soul.

There's a little mountain with a fire tower near Albany which few people seem to know about. I piled the 4 hiking dogs into the car and headed off for a mountain fix. My soul had been crying out for one anyway, what with all the busyness of the farm, the job, the two choruses, the blog, the pets, etc. And driving through the Adirondacks on my way to the farm is most definitely NOT the same as walking through nature, especially if it involves a mountain. And even more so if one can have dogs along on the hike.

The opening photo, above, is all 4 dogs at the beginning of the hike. There's a trail through the woods up the mountain but I prefer the open path for its sunlight, variety of species and views. Notice that to the left of the dogs is Beebe Pond. A pair of Mallards was swimming not far from us.

In the photo above are Seamus, Casey and Fergus alongside Beebe Pond. Wally is there too, almost hidden behind Casey. You have to click on the photo to enlarge it so see him. The dogs love it there as much as I do.

Scattered along the trail in almost every sunny spot was this tiny blue flower with yellow "eyes." They're Bluets, Houstonia caerulea, a member of the Bedstraw family. Charming bouquets in miniature scattered all along the trail.

Bracken Fern, above, caught me by surprise. They were everywhere and brought back childhood memories of summers spent in the Oregon woods. We'd pull up Bracken Ferns and use them as spears, chasing each other through what we called the "Green Forest." All around the Brackens are unidentified ferns, possibly Cinnamon Ferns(?)

The fern above was instantly identifiable as Interrupted Fern, with many fronds interrupted by brown fertile leaflets.

We're just beginning to go uphill in this shot. Seamus, Wally and Fergus lead the way. Casey was lagging behind. Casey is losing both her sight and hearing and I have to watch her lest she stray too far. If I call for her, I have to call loudly. But I also must be careful that she see me lest she begin trotting off in the wrong direction trying to obey my call. I heard Veerys singing in the woods.

I saw these foamy little lilies scattered along the trail like friendly Munchkins. I didn't know what they were but looked them up when I got home. They're Canada Mayflower or Wild Lily-Of-The Valley, Maianthemum canadense.

Another common flower along the woodland trail was the pinkish purple Meadow Cranesbill, Geranium pratense. I have no idea why they're called Cranesbills, but I do know that it gives me great pleasure to know the names and a bit about as many plants and animals as possible. It's kind of like entering a party and recognizing many of the people there. It makes me feel more at home and more welcome.

When we got to the first small frog pond, all the dogs had to wade in. These ponds are filled with Wood Frogs in early spring, the frogs which freeze during winter and thaw out again in spring to breed. A remarkable amphibian. I saw none of them on this hike, however, except a dead one on the trail.

We arrived at the fire tower. This is the shortest hike I know of with a fire tower. A side benefit is that few people know of its existence so I almost always have lots of privacy. I took a video of the scenery as I climbed up the fire tower and will attach it below. I'm embarrassed to say that all the leg extensions I've done over the years at the gym did not save my aging quadriceps from becoming sore. Well, it's good that I chose an easy hike with which to begin the season.

Close to the fire tower is the former caretaker's cabin. The grass is kept mowed around it, but the taller patches you see by the rocks are Lowbush Blueberries. On this hike, I noticed that the fruit has set but won't be ripe for another month or so. I always lie down in the mowed "lawn," much of which is aromatic Wild Thyme, and settle my body and soul.

Above are all four dogs as we return from the fire tower. The dogs seem to get the same calming, centering effect from a walk in the woods that I get. It's important to get out of the city and into the forest.

We're almost back to the car here. I had a potluck dinner to get to that night but never made it. On the way home, the highway shut down due to a truck accident and we were parked on the highway for over an hour. I walked the dogs up and down the waiting cars, however, and the dogs made many friends.

The video of my climb up the fire tower. From the top one can see many of the Catskill and Taconic peaks. As I climb the stairs, you can hear Hermit Thrushes singing in the surrounding woods.