Catherineville State Forest - Part 2

We were about midway on our hike in the Catherineville State Forest and it was a fine spring day - warm, but the black flies were not biting yet:

I decided it was time to turn back toward the car, and the dogs were just as happy about that as they were to start out at the beginning of the hike:

We walked through a forest of great beauty. The leaves were not yet out on the hardwood trees, our spring being so very late this year. But I knew it wouldn't be long:

I was lamenting the lack of Trout Lilies until I saw several of them clustered on a sunny slope. I walked over for a photo. In another week or so, the forest floor would be carpeted in yellow blossoms:

We retraced our steps. I bypassed the wet spots by detouring into the forest, but the dogs seemed to delight in getting wet and muddy:

C'mon, Dad. Can't you walk any faster?:

We ambled along the trail, not in any hurry, beneath the trees and through the dappled sunlight:

This photo caught the water splashing as Seamus trotted through:

Seamus was beginning to look like a giant black sheep in need of shearing. I decided to see about an appointment with the groomer as soon as possible:

And it wasn't long before we spotted our little red car parked in the forest. It had been a pleasant hike, the last one I'd have before getting ankle braces. The doctor assured me that I'd soon be hiking better than ever, but - well, we'll see:

White HIll Wild Forest - Part 1

I tried taking the dogs to White Hill Wild Forest just six days earlier, but found the access road still blocked with snow. But we'd had some warm, sunny days, so I decided to try again. I drove to Parishville and turned at this sign - which, you may notice, still had dirty snow piled up around its base:

But the access road was passable and the scenery along the almost two mile stretch was gorgeous. This beaver marsh, for example:

Daphne and Clover watched the passing forest landscape with interest and excitement:

When we arrived at the parking area, I let the dogs out and headed into the forest on the hiking trail. Our first stop, barely a few hundred feet in, was lovely Clear Pond:

Daphne rushed right down to the water's edge:

A couple of guys launched a small fishing boat from another shore. My dogs watched briefly and then continued having fun. Seamus, of course, waded right in:

Clover and Daphne were a bit more cautious:

We continued on the trail, passing greenery in the form of Princess Pines, one of our most beloved local clubmosses. They seemed to have made it through our rugged winter without difficulty:

Clear Pond is quite large and we skirted the edge of it, often making side trips to explore interesting places. Seamus, lover of water that he is, was especially fond of the wet places:

And all along the shore line was great beauty. This is why people love the Adirondacks;

But the trail took us away from Clear Pond and into the forest:

I was just thinking that no spring flowers were up yet when I noticed patches of Trout Lily. They were only a couple of inches high, but they were up and looking prosperous. They'll be blooming in a week. But we'd just gotten started on this trail, and there was much more to see. I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

A Spec-top-ular Experience On Coney Mountain - Part 1

I woke up extra early on Tuesday morning, had my coffee and breakfast, and cleaned the farm house. I was all ready to leave for Albany but it was far too early yet. So I lay down in bed to read and perhaps to nap while I waited. But then it dawned on me that with both Winky and Wally gone, I could stop anywhere along the route to take the dogs hiking. With that realization, I packed up the car and left for home, stopping south of Tupper Lake at the trail head for Coney Mountain:

The terrain was rocky but incredibly lovely:

And Daphne thanked me for taking her hiking:

Clover celebrated by running full speed up and down the trail:

And there was much sniffing to be done:

Clover peeked around the corner to see why I was moving so slowly:

And we progressed gradually uphill:

The Trilliums were just beginning to bloom and this Painted Trillium was the first one I spotted:

Clover and Fergus stopped only momentarily, waiting for me to photograph the Trillium:

And then we continued uphill:

Trout lilies were in full bloom:

And these wonderful yellow violets. I tried to look up the species, but gave up and just decided to call them yellow violets. But we were just getting started. I'll post more tomorow:

Part 1 - Beaver Bridge Trail

I checked my map to see how to get from the hamlet of High Flats to the hamlet of Wildwood. It required a long drive on French Hill Road. Coincidentally, I'd heard of a French Hill trail and intended to hike it just the day before. Unable to find French Hill Trail, I hiked in Southville State Forest instead. So when I stumbled onto the French Hill Trail (though it was really called Beaver Bridge Trail), I had to stop and hike it:

The day was lovely, I had free time and all five hiking dogs were riding in the car with me. So I parked and we began a new adventure, leaving the car behind as we climbed uphill into the forest:

The trail wound through the woods, closely accompanying a dirt lane. I kept to the trail because I figured I'd see more wildflowers on the trail. The dogs alternated between the trail and road, at least at first:

I saw Trout Lilies, newly emerged and preparing to bloom:

We were all having a happy experience and I snapped this photo of Madeline smiling:

Did you notice the white wildflowers in the above photo? They were Hepatica, and the woods was filled with them:

Hepatica everywhere, some of them pink and some almost purple:

Red Trilliums were about to blossom at any minute:

The trail took us away from the road and up a hill:

I saw large patches of ramps. In fact, there were ramps by the millions. Ramps are a wild onion with a garlic-like aroma and an onion taste:

And I wasn't going to pass by without eating a couple of them:

"What are you eating, Dad? Do dogs like ramps? Can't you walk any faster?" But we were just getting started. I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

Part 2, Coney Mountain In The Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest

The trail up Coney Mountain was both scenic and easy, just the ticket for an old geezer who had recently experienced some leg weakness:

And the dogs were happy, happy, happy. This, after all, was their second hike that morning. By the way, don't let the radiance of Daphne's "smile" cause you to miss the cluster of Painted Trilliums near her feet:

We continued gradually upward. Many trees were just beginning to leaf out even though this was mid-May and we'd had an early spring with 80 degree temperatures in March:

And then the trail became steeper. The dogs turned around to look at me as if they wondered if my legs would poop out on us again. But I was doing just fine and we continued on our way to the summit:

And I found Trout Lilies in bloom in mid-May. Boy, these mountainsides were really experiencing a late spring!:

My legs were fine but Seamus, overweight as he is, needed a rest. We all waited for him to catch his breath. He's since gone on a diet and is looking thinner these days:

I got down on my belly to photograph a Red Trillium in bloom and Fergus walked over to keep an eye on me. It made for quite a terrific picture:

And then I began finding Spring Beauties in bloom! I wondered just how late the mountainside snows had melted this year:

More Red Trilliums:

And then we reached the steeper, final rocky ascent toward the summit. Views were already opening up to the right:

The higher we went, the better the scenic overlooks became:

Higher and higher, through a small clump of trees. We were almost there - but I'll post photos from the summit tomorrow: