Old Keenan Road, Brasher State Forest, Part 1

I took the dogs to nearby Brasher State Forest, the place we go so often, but this time followed the state map to get to a hiking trail we'd never tried before. I turned onto what the state map said was a road. Alas, it had deep ruts and mud holes which I was able to avoid until I came to where the entire road was covered with water. There didn't look to be enough room to turn around safely, so I backed up - but wound up stuck permanently in a deep mud puddle.

The dogs and I were able to get out on the passenger's side, avoiding the two feet of muddy water on the other side. Then we started walking. As you can see, the dogs thought it was just a happy, fun hike:

I tried repeatedly to call AAA but without success. They put me on eternal hold, promised to return the call but only left a voice mail (which I was able to return only by calling the main "emergency" number and going through the whole process again). We kept walking:

It was a happy walk in the woods for the dogs and I enjoyed the scenery:

I took my time because of my lameness and new, uncomfortable leg braces. The dogs wanted to run, and I had to keep calling them back:

But at least the "road" was level and made of soft sand:

I stopped to check on local wildflowers, including this Yellow Loosestrife:

And there was deep forest on both sides of the "road:"

Logging operations had obliterated any intersections with hiking trails, but they'd finished logging and moved elsewhere, so there was no one to assist me:

So we kept walking, and I kept trying to reach AAA:


I finally called the Albany area office where I originally got my AAA membership. They were helpful, and a local tow service owner said he'd come out and check to see if he could pull me out of the mire. He was not happy to be called to what he called "a trail, not a road," but he said he'd come take a look. I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

St. Regis River Access Plants - Part 3

I was hiking with the dogs at the St. Regis River Access (see also previous two posts) and discovering a wealth of wildflowers, including Red Clover and Queen Anne's Lace:

And a surprising number of Yellow Loosestrife, sometimes called Swamp Candles. They are not related to the invasive Purple Loosestrife:

Even without flowers or fruit, I recognized this as Spreading Dogbane. I still remember the first time I noticed it (it was flowering) and looked it up in my field guide. Now that I know what it is, I seem to see it everywhere. There sure was plenty along this trail:

Tiny, colorful Birdfoot Trefoil:

I usually come to this trail in the summer to see Cardinal Flowers and in the early fall to see Gentian flowers. I didn't expect any this day, but the Narrow-Leaved Gentians were right there along the trail:

Blue wildflowers are not common, but the Gentians are not only blue but a deep, dramatic blue:

I moved in for a closeup:

I saw Lowbush Blueberry bushes all along the hike but it wasn't until I got near the end that I began to find ripe berries. I ate quite a few of them:

Lowbush Blueberries are pretty plants, and I wonder if anyone grows them as ornamentals. I'll bet someone does:

Then I noticed a whole patch of minuscule plants with flowers so tiny I could barely make out what they looked like:

I got a closeup for identification and looked them up when I got home. I learned that they are called Eyebright because they used to be used for eye maladies. They are a member of the Snapdragon family. So I now know a new plant which I've never noticed before:

The last plant photo I took was of Reindeer Lichen, moss and Lowbush Blueberries. It seemed to me the quintessential Adirondack plant grouping and a fitting way to conclude this post:

The St. Regis River Access Trail - Part 1

I left for the St. Regis River Access trail early in the day and got within a couple miles of our destination before I realized I'd forgotten both my cell phone and my camera. I drove all the way home and returned, adding another hour onto the trip, but it was worth it:

Black-Eyed Susans bloomed all along the roadsides and all along the trail:

And the St. Regis River was inviting. Little Jack couldn't resist wading in while Clover rolled in the wet sand:

Steeplebush was in bloom, beautifying everything:

We walked slowly, examining things along the way and taking advantage of every path we saw down to the river:

Now, here's the real reason I wanted to go here. I figured it was Cardinal Flower season and I was right. Our wild Lobelia is so very red that it seems as if it might glow in the dark:


The dogs, of course, had no regard for Cardinal Flowers and walked right past them without a nod:

They had a grand time, and Seamus looked almost gaunt after his recent haircut. In fact, he looked so thin that I increased his morning bowl of food a bit:

Jack, Fergus and Seamus all went into the water together:

Happy, happy dogs:

Clover and Daphne went into the river also, but first they had to explore a riverside trail:

And everywhere along the shore were Cardinal Flowers in bloom:

Daphne splashed and played a bit, and then held still to cool off and get a drink:

I remembered that this wildflower was called Swamp Candles, but I had to look it up when I got home to get the more common name, Yellow Loosestrife. It is a member of the Evening Primrose family:

We were the only visitors to the area so leashes were not needed. That was fine with the pooches. Notice the row of Cardinal Flowers on the left of this photo. But we had just begun, and I'll post Part 2 tomorrow: