Wintry Fun At Marcy Field

The dogs and I were on our way home from the farm and as yet had only had one rest stop (Hays Brook). It's always difficult to find suitable places in the wintertime, places where I can get off the road for the dogs' freedom and safety. Marcy Field parking lot is usually plowed and usually unoccupied - as it was on this day:


The dogs got out and immediately began running:

This photo captured all seven of them. It's rare to get them all in one picture:

We walked over to the trail head for Blueberry and Porter Mountains:


And began to explore the trail:

Daphne and Clover, as usual, led the way as we moved at a glacial pace up the trail:

With old Winky and Wally poking along behind us, we had to travel slowly. But then, that's all the better for dogs to thoroughly sniff the scenery:

Seamus, who had been lagging behind, caught up with the group:

And we proceeded happily, albeit slowly, beneath the canopy of trees:

But this was only a brief rest stop and the weather was cold and blustery. I called the dogs back to the parking lot:

Madeline and Wally brought up the rear. Winky was actually ahead of them, but only because he had never even made it as far as the trail:

I got the pooches loaded up, counted noses several times and headed back out to the highway. This was our final rest stop for the trip:

A Snowy Stop At Marcy Field

When my weekend up at the farm came to an end, I loaded the dogs into the car and headed toward home. We couldn't stop at Hays Brook because the snow was too deep, so the dogs never got out of the car until we reached Marcy Field in the Keene Valley. They were more than ready for their rest stop:

The views of the Adirondack mountains surrounding Marcy Field were lovely:

The dogs got busy exploring as soon as I let them out. Madeline and Wally walked over to a snow bank, decided not to attempt climbing it and turned around:

Seamus' long legs would carry him just about anywhere, but he likes to take the easy way and stayed in the plowed areas:

Winky waddled around sniffing and doing his business, mostly oblivious to what the other dogs were doing:

The road into the parking area had been plowed, which provided us with the opportunity for a rest stop and a good place to stop and view the surrounding mountains:

And the dogs had a grand time:

We stayed in the parking area on this trip even though there was a hiking trail. The snow was just too deep:

More doggy exploration and "sniffalization:"

Madeline struck out on her own to sniff the countryside:

And then wondered where everyone had gone:

I got all the dogs loaded back into the car, counted noses multiple times to allay my fears of leaving one of them behind - and headed back onto the highway to finish our journey home:

Scenes From The Keene Valley

We'd had a wonderful trip up to the farm and were on our way home when I stopped at the Keene Cemetery for a look at the high peaks all covered in clouds. Little Madeline had never been there before and ran happily back and forth. I got a roll of poop pick-up bags out of my glove compartment just in case:

The scenery was beautiful and the dogs were happy to be out and stretching their legs:

They collected at various smells. One would get a whiff of something interesting and the others would crowd around to share the experience:

But as for me, I mostly enjoyed the glorious scenery of high peaks brushed with clouds:

This rest stop lasted only a few minutes and I soon had the dogs loaded back up into the car so that we could continue our journey. I hadn't had to use the poop pick-up bags:

I snapped one last photo as we drove out of the cemetery:

We continued on our way through the Keene Valley where I caught another view of the cloud misted mountains:

And at Marcy Field, I got an excellent view of both clouds and Adirondack peaks:

All around this flat valley floor are mountains, and on that day they were all mysterious wrapped in veils of swirling after-the-rain clouds:

I said goodbye to Marcy Field and continued on our way toward Albany:

The mountain views here are always changing - green in the summer, red and gold in the autumn, brown later on, white in the winter, sometimes in sun, sometimes in shade, sometimes in clouds:

And I stopped for a view of what I've always assumed was Nippletop (for obvious reasons). On this day its "nipple" was coated with white snow which made it look even more like a giant breast poking up from the earth. But at that point we were almost to the Northway where the leisurely, picture taking part of the trip would be over and the high speed race south to Albany would begin:

The High Peaks Dressed In Autumn Splendor

I'd been so enthralled by the spectacular autumn colors along the Port Kent Hopkinton Turnpike that I'd spent several hours traveling less than 50 miles. I determined to cease my picture taking and just drive. So I turned south onto Route 3 and drove into the town of Saranac Lake. But when I passed by lovely Lake Flower - well, you know I had to stop for at least one photo. By the way, I noticed that the bakery across from Lake Flower is called the Lake Flour Cakery:

And from there I headed southeast through the High Peaks Region:

Bigger mountains sidled right up alongside the road, all cloaked in autumn finery:

The road dropped sharply down into the Keene Valley:

And there were more scenic wonders to be viewed in the Keene Valley:

These two small mountains kept watch over Marcy Field:

As Route 73 would through the Giant Mountain region, the colors intensified:

And the dogs kept watch whenever I got out of the car to snap a photo:

I saw this woman alongside the road, apparently a professional photographer, and I knew at once that her choice of scenery was perfect. I had to drive on ahead and find a place to turn around, but that's just what I did:

Because I knew that she was standing at the top of the Ausable River gorge, with a roaring water flume down below and autumn finery adorning the banks:

The Ausable River is a picturesque mountain stream which flows along Route 73 and provides such visual delights as these:

But I was almost to the Northway and knew that I'd then put my camera away and focus on my driving. But I had three sleeping elves beside me and wanted to preserve that sweet moment in a photo before I got onto the highway:

Driving Home From The Farm Through The Adirondacks

It had been a productive and exciting visit to the farm, but of course the time came when it was time to head for home. I didn't dawdle but left early in the morning and took the most direct route. I did, however, take the time to stop and photograph some of the beautiful Adirondacks on my way home:

Some of the high peaks near Adirondack Loj Road:

More peaks over a driving range:

And when we arrived at the Cascade Lakes, I pulled into the little waterside park to give the dogs a break:

It was still quite early in the morning and taking pictures without glare was difficult. But as you can see, the surroundings were magnificent:

We were all alone in the park and the dogs trotted around giving everything the sniff test. The morning sun was just beginning to hit the mountaintops while we, down below, were still in the shade:

In spite of the unseasonable warm weather there was still some ice on the lakes and steam rising as that ice melted. The dogs and I took a walk along the shoreline:

Poor old Wally found himself too far from the car when it came time to leave. Winky was the other direction so I just had to hold still and keep calling them both:

And then we drove onward through the Keene Valley:

And I stopped for more photos of the glorious Adirondacks:

My favorite spot. I never grow tired of this scene:

I drove on past Marcy Field but didn't stop to let the dogs out. I reckoned that there'd be an opportunity for one more rest stop when we reached the Ausable River: