Jenkins Mountain Trail, Part 1

I'd hiked with my four youngest dogs from the trail head near Paul Smiths College north along the western shores of Black Pond and Long Pond. The trail had been exceedingly level and easy. When we reached the intersection with the Jenkins Mountain trail, I had a decision to make. Would my formerly weak legs make it to the summit? I didn't know, but they were feeling fine just then so I turned west toward Jenkins Mountain and began a slow, gradual ascent:

The trail was easy and it appeared we had it all to ourselves. The day was sunny and warm:

As we climbed higher into the hills, the conifers turned to hardwoods. This was on April 30 and none of the trees had yet leafed out. I guess those northern trees knew better than to be fooled by an early spring. I could see several mountains just ahead. Could one of those be Jenkins Mountain?:

There were plenty of Trout Lilies but even they were just beginning. Only one or two had flowers beginning to open:

There were Red TrilliumsTrout also, but they were either past their prime or not particularly pretty for some other reason:

The trail took us to the top of a long series of glacial eskers which had beaver ponds on both sides and mountains just ahead:

One mountain had a particularly rocky and open top, and I guessed that must be Jenkins Mountain:

We continued along the crest of eskers with the beaver ponds comfortably below us:

There were beaver lodges out in the water and several dams of considerable length and complexity. Sadly, my photo of the biggest dam did not turn out well:

I was getting better views by then of that rocky mountain top:

I zoomed in for a closer look. Yes, I was sure that the scenic vistas from atop that rocky peak would be wonderful. But we were just getting started. I'll post more tomorrow: