Finishing Our Hike On The Taconic Crest Trail

We were on our way back to the trail head and my parked car. It had certainly not been a difficult hike, perhaps only 5.5 miles and mostly level, but my legs felt like rubber. I knew this muscle weakness was a bad side effect of a drug my doctor'd had me try. I would certainly stop taking it, but for now I just needed to make it back to the car:

Though I was feeling increasingly weak and tired, the four pooches were having themselves a merry old time, When they'd run too far ahead, I'd just call them back to me and they'd come running with enormous enthusiasm. A little petting and praise works wonders:

Being late December, the sun set very early and we were mostly walking right towards it. The setting sun and slanting sunshine gave everything a magical appearance:

I knew that just before the trail head was a scenic overlook not too far from the path. I gave a call for the dogs and walked over there, tired legs and all:

This view looked out over the Taconic Valley and the towns of Petersburgh and Berlin. Of course I couldn't see that far, but Albany also lay off in that direction:

Route 2 runs up the valley between where we stood and that next mountain. My car was parked at the foot of that mountain. I heard no more laughter so assumed the sledding children had all gone home:

Farm fields cut out of the forest down in the valley:

But the lengthening shadows and my very weak legs gave me good reason to continue on toward the car:

I put the dogs all on leashes in order to cross the highway. I then loaded them up into the car and snapped one last photo of Massachusetts' Mount Greylock not too far away:

The dogs were not at all tired. They'd have loved to hike some more but I wanted to go home:

One last glance across the road to the start of the trail we'd just hiked and I began driving home:

And on the way stopped for a quick photo of the house I used to own, in which I lived when I adopted my two boys. The hayloft of that barn is where I lived for three years before that. It brought back lots of memories, some good and some bad. But it was time to drive home and take a rest:

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 Turn-Around Point On The Taconic Crest Trail

The dogs and I continued climbing up to the top of this almost denuded peak and I kept trying to figure out what had happened there. The tree trunks were still lying on the ground with the brush and some trunks had actually been chopped into shorter pieces. I figured that meant the cutting was neither for pulp nor for lumber:

There were some nice views from the peak and a few trees had been left standing. This inclined me to believe that Williams College was planning to build something here. If so, it would have to do without an access road or electricity:

Most of the trees left standing did not look like perfect enough specimens to have been intended as seed trees. Once the brush had been cleared, however, there would be a nice park-like clearing at the peak, at least if it was kept mowed:

After I got home, I placed a call to the manager of the Hopkins Memorial Forest for Williams College. He didn't answer, so I left a message asking about the cutting and just received a return call from him. He explained that they cut a 5 acre patch in the middle of solid forest to allow brush to grow up and accommodate species which prefer the edges of forests, increasing the wildlife variety and density. The brush and trunks will be left where they fell and new growth of berries, etc. will support many species which are now absent or in decline. The trees left standing were for nesting and wildlife dens. He was a very kind man and willing to talk at length about their plans:

After passing through the cut peak, we continued on along the Taconic Crest Trail

Five trail markers on one unfortunate small tree, and there would have six if one hadn't fallen off! I couldn't help but think this was excessive:

We began to climb up an incline which I knew from previous hikes would yield a wonderful view:

And indeed it did. As the dogs ran ahead playfully, I entered into the clearing where I was planning to turn around and begin the return trip:

The dogs weren't impressed with the view, but they did enjoy the smells on the uphill side of the clearing:

I could see clear across the valley to the Petersburgh Pass where we'd parked. You can see Route 2 winding its way up the mountain:

And to the southwest I could see out over the Taconic Valley towns of Petersburgh and Berlin (where I once lived):

Daphne and Seamus stopped their play for a moment to watch me climbing around as I took pictures:

And Fergus found a safe, quiet spot from which to keep an eye on me. Our human endeavors must sometimes seem strange from a dog's point of view:

Shocking Discovery On The Taconic Crest Trail

We were about midway on our Taconic Crest Trail hike the day after Christmas. As we quietly plodded along the snow covered trail I could see Taconic and Berkshire mountains through the leafless trees. At this spot I could actually see Williamstown, Massachusetts down in the valley:

Some square beams had thoughtfully been placed across some boggy areas to keep hikers' feet dry and also, I'd assume, to prevent undue erosion. There was still liquid water even on December 26th!:

And green ferns could still be seen awaiting springtime beneath a scant layer of snow:

This part of the Taconic Mountains is notable for its abundance of white quartzite and it was abundant along this section of the trail. In fact, two of the closest peaks to the Snow Hole are named White Rock and White Rocks:

We hiked onward, admiring the silent beauty of the forest:

Fergus tends to run too far ahead and I have to call him back occasionally:

White quartzite and ice needles together in the snow:

And then we began an uphill climb toward one of the higher peaks:

I was suffering from a weakness in my legs caused by a bad side effect from a prescription drug (which I no longer take) and was slowing down considerably. Daphne and Clover ran back to see what was taking me so long:

As I neared the summit I was horrified to see almost all the trees cut down and strewn around the ground:

A few trees were left, almost as if someone intended to turn this into a park with grassy areas and a few scattered trees. But the remaining trees were not, I didn't think, left as seed trees because they didn't seem to me to be appropriate choices:

And the trunks were left strewn on the ground with the branches. Nothing had been taken for either pulp or for lumber. Very strange indeed. I'll post more about our hike tomorrow:

Snowy Forests On The Taconic Crest Trail

I had just begun hiking the Taconic Crest Trail in Petersburgh, New York with my four youngest dogs. The weather was beautiful, at least for a late December day although there were pretty fierce winds at first. The dogs were very happy to be out:

We passed into a more wind-protected area as we continued to hike. The woods were quiet and still as we silently moved along the trail:

In some spots I found the tree branches covered with ice:

And the whole effect of the icy branches was as of a crystal covered woodland all aglow in the sunshine:

Daphne and Clover, AKA the Silly Sisters, were happy but being rather serious all things considered. Perhaps they're (finally) passing out of the puppy state:

Having Seamus along is almost like having a human being with me - only better because he doesn't talk!:

We could see more mountains of the Taconic Range through the leafless trees:

And clear blue skies allowed some sunny warmth to penetrate down to our level as we progressed:

I kept seeing what looked a bit like bean sprouts in the snow and at first I couldn't figure out what they were. Then I remembered that they were Ice Needles, the result of water moving up through wet ground by means of capillary action and freezing when it hit the frigid air:

I tried to keep the dogs close to me yet still allow them some freedom. Occasionally I called them back to me and praised them for their obedience:

I could see more mountains directly ahead of us and knew from past experience that was were the trail would be taking us:

And some of those mountains looked like they'd be quite a climb. They weren't difficult, though.This section of trail is actually quite easy. I put my camera in my pocket and headed for that next mountain. I'll post more tomorrow: