Tooley Pond Mountain, Part 2

We'd reached the summit of Tooley Pond Mountain (see yesterday's post) and it was lovely, although the scenic overlook was disappointing:

But the forest was wonderful, with mosses underfoot and Balsams and Spruces and ferns along the way:

I called the dogs and we began heading back down the trail toward our parked car:

It's easy to become so focused on finding spectacular scenic overlooks and crystal lakes that one forgets to appreciate the beauty of the forest. This hike reminded me to put my attention on the wild forest all about me and to be grateful for it:

It's been so dry that mushrooms have been scarce this year. But I did pass by this pale red one. I think it's the same species which is so often a more distinct red, but I think this one was on the decline:

I snapped a photo of happy dogs on the trail:

We passed a couple with their (leashed) dog heading up the mountain. I think they were taken aback by my unleashed dogs, but everyone (and all the dogs) was friendly:

Fergus looked small in the forest:

We crossed back over the bridge over the stream:

And through the ferny meadow:

I was focusing my attention on the beauty of the Adirondack forest and the experience of being in such a remote, wild place:

We arrived back at our parked car, a happy man and his happy dogs. But it was time for lunch and we were many miles from anywhere I could find a store. It had been a good morning up at the farm with three hikes already under my belt:

Tooley Pond Mountain, Part 1

We'd just hiked in to Basford Falls and Copper Rock Falls, two beautiful spots on the Grasse River along Tooley Pond Road. But there was one more hike on that road which I'd missed the last time I hike here, and that was Tooley Pond Mountain. So that's where we headed next:

The trail began as a pleasant, level walk through ferny forests:

Tooley Pond Mountain had lost most of its attraction when its fire tower was relocated to Cathedral Rock many years ago, so I didn't expect to meet any other hikers. We had the whole mountain to ourselves:

We crossed a small bridge over a stream:

And then the trail began to head uphill:

Patches of Shining Clubmoss added color and enchantment to the forest floor:

The trail was marked with red discs and was really quite an easy hike:

We arrived at the summit:

I looked down at my feet and saw Fergus' bandanna on the ground. I didn't put it back on him, but just stuffed it in my pocket for the rest of the trip:

And there was a view, though not a particularly good one. If the trees grow much more, there won't be any view at all:

There was a concrete step which must have once been part of the caretaker's cabin. It was marked, if I remember correctly, 1919:

I had to stand on my toes to see any view at all, but still this was a pleasant and remote site which I enjoyed very much. I'll post more about Tooley Pond Mountain tomorrow:

Chapter 2, Cathedral Rock Fire Tower

I was hiking up to the Cathedral Rock fire tower with my four youngest dogs in the Cranberry Lake Wild Forest on a perfectly lovely, sunny day:

Clover, who loves to run ahead, was the first to see the fire tower. "Look what I found, everybody!:"

And they all broke into a run to go see it. Just look at Fergus' foot pads as he sprints ahead:

I tied the dogs to the base of the fire tower to prevent them from following me up the stairs. I climbed to the top and was rewarded with this stunning view of the Cranberry Lake Wild Forest:

Cathedral Rock was not an original fire tower location. The old fire tower on Tooley Pond Mountain was disassembled, relocated to Cathedral Rock and rebuilt by the students at the Wanakena Ranger School. I'll post more about the Ranger School soon:

This was not real mountainous terrain and Cathedral Rock would not have been high enough for a working fire tower, but it sure made a wonderful, short hike in a beautiful location:

I snapped a photo in each direction and was surprised that I couldn't see nearby Cranberry Lake:

I could, however, see Route 3. This was wild and largely unsettled territory, though, and I noticed very little traffic on the highway:

I started back down the steps and could see my four dogs waiting anxiously for me down below:

I got the pooches' picture before untying them:

And then we began hiking back down the trail, passing many flowers in bloom such as this St. Johnswort:

The trail had been not too long and not too steep. Even tubby old Seamus was not tired. But I'll post more tomorrow: