Lengthening Shadows On The Taconic Crest Trail

The dogs and I passed over the peak which had been almost clear-cut and continued on toward the Snow Hole. I knew from previous hikes that a very nice overlook was just ahead and planned to stop there. We rested at that scenic place and enjoyed the view. This is looking southwest with the towns of Petersburgh and Berlin in the valley below:

And Seamus also enjoyed the uphill view:

Looking toward the southeast, we could see Route 2 winding its way up across Petersburgh Pass where we had parked to begin our hike. The wind had blown snow onto the bushes where it stuck in clumps and looked like frozen cotton balls:

Clover and Seamus watched me as I moved around snapping pictures. They must have been wondering what on earth I was doing:

But I was tired and it was already afternoon. So we began the return trip, following the same trail by which we'd come. The two Papillons led the way:

It was only mid-afternoon at that point, but the shadows had already begun to lengthen and I could feel the evening chill spreading across the landscape. My legs were weak, a bad side effect from a new drug the doctor had me try. It became so problematic that I began to worry about making it back to the car. I did make it, though, and have since called the doctor and discontinued that medication:

We passed back over the peak where all the trees had been cut down:

At one point I could see Mount Greylock in Massachusetts directly ahead of us. I could easily see the War Memorial Tower at its peak although you probably can't see it in the photo:

My camera's self-timer hasn't been working but I got the idea to just hold it at arm's length and snap my own picture. The result was this scary image. Is it a snow monster?:

I marvel that these little Papillons never seem to get cold. They may be small, but they are surely athletic dogs, a go anywhere, do anything breed if there ever was one:

Daphne and Fergus pose in the afternoon shadows:

On and on we walked, the dogs having a grand old time and me with weakened, wobbly legs. But I'll post more tomorrow from our Taconic Crest Hike:

The Taconic Crest Trail - Part 4

This is the final post of my Taconic Crest Hike to the Snow Hole. I'd hiked up there with Fergus, Seamus and Daphne. We'd arrived at the Snow Hole and I descended down into it with Fergus and Seamus. Daphne was too busy flirting with some students from Williams College to go with us. My foot at one point broke through the crust and plunged down several feet into the snow. The same thing happened to Seamus. I guess that's because we're both a bit portly:

We emerged from the Snow Hole and allowed another couple down into it with their Miniature Poodle. I unglued Daphne from her new friends from Williams College and we began our return hike to where we'd parked the car several miles across the mountains. This is a good view of the Snow Hole, showing what one sees walking through the woodlands. I suppose many people wouldn't even notice if it wasn't so well known for holding snow into the warm weather:

We began hiking back toward the car parked at the trail head. I stopped for a photo along the way. That green carpet on the forest floor was Trout Lilies in full bloom:

And of course we stopped at every scenic overlook. Seamus was by this time panting desperately and attempting to curl up pitifully beneath shady trees. I began to fear he might be near heat stroke and allowed him many rests. Seamus weighed in at 119 pounds at his last visit to the vet who also suggested it was time I cut back on his food a bit. That's hard to do with 6 dogs in the house, but I'm now working on it:

Seamus is only 2 and a half years old and, I thought, getting lots of exercise. But he began suffering on that hot day and I could never have carried him out. So I let him take numerous rests. Once we were back in the shady forest and had found a muddy place for him to get a drink, the crisis was eased:

We passed a family traveling towards the snow hole and they took our picture with the Taconic Mountains spread out behind us. I took a family photo for them:

Daphne hopped up on a fallen tree and gave me her "wolf pose:"

And I posed with the dogs beneath the blooming Shadblow trees:

We made our way back down the mountainside with breathtaking scenery in every direction:

And almost to the trail head, we met a young couple with whom we exchanged photo shoots. Notice the muddy feet on Fergus:

We finally arrived at the trail head. A group of Harley riders was resting there and they got all gooey eyed over the dogs. I'm always amazed how big, tough looking men often get weak in the knees over dogs. Well, I shouldn't be so amazed. A good dog affects me that way also.

Anyway, we got back into the car and began to drive home. We were all hot and dirty and I was still concerned about Seamus and his heavy panting. So as soon as I got to the Little Hoosic River, I stopped to let the dogs swim, drink and cool off. Daphne, of course, immediately slipped and fell in:

Seamus didn't need to slip. He plunged right in for a much needed cool down:

Fergus needed a bit of encouragement, but he went in also:

And alongside the Little Hoosic River we passed these small blue flowers which I have been unable to identify. I believe they are not Bluets because they have 5 petals instead of 4. I think they are Forget-Me-Nots, but which species I cannot say:

After a stop to cool off the dogs, I stopped for a couple of Diet Cokes to cool myself off and we were on our way home. But before I end this post, I have one more brief video clip. It was taken at a scenic overlook on the return part of our hike. I made two errors in my narration, however. Massachusetts and Mt. Greylock are, of course, to the east instead of the west. And the highway seen crossing that mountain pass is Route 2, not Route 22 (though both highways were visible from up there),

The Taconic Crest Trail - Part 3

We were well on our way along the Taconic Crest Trail on the border of New York and Massachusetts as I hiked with Fergus, Seamus and Daphne. We'd done a lot of deep woods hiking and seen plenty of spring flowers on the forest floor, but now we'd emerged into a high clearing where spectacular views of the valley below were spread out before us. This view is looking southeast and that curving road you see on the left is New York Route 2, the road on which we arrived. The parking area is just about where it curves around that mountain hump. That's American Shad, or Shadblow, blooming on the mountainside:

Little Daphne, with her muddy legs, was having a grand time and all excited. But she agreed to hold still for just a moment so that I could photograph her sitting beside some blooming lowbush blueberries:

The air was still and quiet, with not even the usual high peaks winds rushing by. Vultures soared soundlessly in the high spaces between mountains:

More Shadblow blooming on the hillside as I viewed the Taconic Mountains towards the southwest:

This has become one of my favorite photos as it shows all three dogs climbing the mountain up into the sky:

More scenic views, more blooming Shadblow, more Taconic Mountains, more peace and quiet:

The valley below is where I used to live and where New York Route 22 traverses in its long span from north to south. Standing up here all alone with my happy dogs with no other people anywhere was a bit like soaring:

Directly below our mountain where New York Route 2 runs east and west between Massachusetts and New York:

Fergus, Daphne and Seamus took a rest with the high altitude miniaturized trees behind them:

And I discovered some Red Trillium plants in bloom:

When we arrived at the Snow Hole, our destination, I was shocked to see a large group of hikers from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. We'd been totally alone on our mountain trek until then. They were resting and cooking lunch. You may notice Daphne getting chummy with the woman in the white tank top. But her main love affair was the man in black to the left. She was all over him like white on rice:

That's the snow hole on the right and the woman with the black tank top was cooking right on its edge. I warned her to watch carefully lest my goofy dogs topple the propane cookers down into the grotto. Then another couple arrived with a Miniature Poodle who looked much like Fergus. My two Poodles went bananas with excitement and ran over to see her but her owners picked her up quickly, not sure if they were friendly or not. It was just a matter of moments before all the dogs were playing together happily (the Williams College students had a dog also):

You may be wondering what happened to little Daphne in this photo taken down inside the Snow Hole. Well, she glommed onto that young guy resting near the entrance to the Snow Hole and was licking his face like shameless hussy. So I left her to her infatuation and descended down into the grotto with Fergus and Seamus:

There was indeed snow down inside, though less than I'd expected for early May. On the other hand, I suddenly broke through the crust and one leg dropped down several feet through the snow, so it was deeper than it at first appeared. Also, the temperatures above the Snow Hole were in the mid 80s, so the contrast was striking:

And I'll end with a short video clip taken at a scenic overlook just before we reached the Snow Hole:

The Taconic Crest Trail - Part 2

The dogs and I had begun our hike on the Taconic Crest Trail and were on our way to the Snow Hole, a sort of grotto which reputedly holds its snow year 'round. Well, it used to, at least before global warming. In the past I've found tiny amounts of snow in early July but little or no snow thereafter. This was early May so I had high hopes.

We'd ascended the rocky slopes which began the hike and then descended into the protected valley between the peaks. Now we were were gradually climbing up towards the scenic overlooks and the Snow Hole. The forests surrounding the trail were spectacularly beautiful in an early spring sort of way. The trail was clear cut and the whole look of the mountain path was one of magic, of a fairy tale come to life. Notice that little Daphne is once again (or still) running joyfully, this time with her playful buddy, Fergus:

Besides the other flowers I presented in yesterday's post, there were purple and white violets along the trail:

Shadblow trees were in full bloom in the canopy of miniaturized trees and the Trout Lilies were in full bloom carpeting the ground below. The effect reminded me of Easter decorations:

And Daphne kept running joyously:

Fergus ran for a while, but eventually pooped out:

On and on we hiked. This trail is aptly called a "crest trail" for one can see the drop off into the valleys below in nearly every direction, at least a great deal of the time. Notice in this photo the clear sky up ahead. There are no mountains blocking the view for we are on top already:

Daphne continued to romp and play:

But Seamus was getting winded:

Fergus was still having fun, but less enthusiastically than previously. Notice the muddy feet:



On and on we hiked, with flowering Shadblow trees in the canopy, Silver Birch trees alongside the trail, and carpets of Trout Lilies in all directions. Even the dogs seemed to appreciate the magical beauty:

Here's a sample of the "carpets of Trout Lilies:"

Fergus and Daphne, being the youngest and most energetic, continued to lead the way:

And after some time, we arrived at the first scenic overlook. These are the Taconic Mountains on the border between New York and Massachusetts and the view was stunning:

Besides the Taconic Mountains in the distance, the Shadblow trees were blooming on the slope:

Here's a brief video taken while on the trail. It was a very hot day, which seemed at odds with the early spring blooms and buds we found on the mountain tops. But is was beautiful and the dogs were thrilled to be outdoors and were running happily: