We'd reached the peak of Coney Mountain with its 360 degree views out over the Adirondack Mountains. The day was perfect - clear and pleasant without being too hot or too chilly. There were no black flies out and I couldn't have asked for more. That's Tupper Lake in the distance and, just to the left of it, a small section of Route 30 is visible. The dogs stood on the rocky promontory and looked out over the wondrous view:
And then I lay down to gaze up at the clouds drifting by, listen to the birds and feel the light breeze. The dogs joined me. They too were happy to take a rest. This was, after all, our second hike of the morning:
Clover got bored and went exploring while I continued to rest:
I shot a photo of my own ugly (but happy) mug and then got up to explore the summit:
C'mon, Seamus and Fergus. Get up and let's go exploring:
Daphne had already positioned herself as Queen Of Coney Mountain:
The dogs and I walked in a big circle, checking out the summit and looking at the views in every direction:
Clover was fascinated with the views. I think dogs understand much more than we give them credit for:
But of course the time soon came to descend. I saw a different trail leading the down the mountain and decided it must be a shortcut:
I stopped along the way to say "Howdy" to this handsome American Toad:
And then the trail became so exceedingly steep that I took no more photos at all until we reached flat land just before we arrived at highway. It turns out that I was on the OLD trail which was quite steep and even treacherous in places. That's why they'd built the new trail. But once we were on our way downhill, I certainly wasn't going to climb back up and start again. I took this photo of Clover just before we hit the highway at a place only about 50 feet south of where I'd parked on the shoulder of the road:
Thank you. I feel like I went on the hike with you and the dogs. Reminds me I've got to get about moving around in the wilderness myself.
ReplyDeleteAgape, Daniel