Brasher State Forest - Part 2

The dogs and I were hiking through the White Pines in the Brasher State Forest (see also Part 1, posted yesterday):

We were a merry band of explorers as we searched the forest to see what we could see (or in the dogs' case, to smell what they could smell):

Clover paused beside a vernal pond, of which there were many. Sadly, it was still too early to hear any frogs:

I took this photo by accident, but liked it when I got home and looked through my pictures. It shows all five dogs, including Seamus' head in the foreground and orange colored Jack, just visible up ahead among the White Pines:

I searched for ways around the wet spots, and Fergus and Seamus had by then tired themselves out enough to follow me without too much running ahead:

Soon we caught a glimpse of our car off through the trees. There is an advantage to having a red car:

So we all headed in that direction with renewed vigor:

The forest access road had very little traffic so I didn't even worry about the dogs going in the road:

Seamus and Daphne stopped for a quick sniff at the outhouse:

And then we finished our hike, loaded up into the car and headed for home. It had been a fine day:

Part 2 - A Rainy Day In Brasher State Forest

I'd taken the dogs (except PeeWee) to Brasher State Forest for a bit of rainy day hiking. We were on Deer Trail but kept straying from it in order to explore the forest:

Seamus was very well behaved. It was his running ahead on Coney Mountain and hurting himself which inspired my new rule that the dogs keep close to me at all times. Clover and Fergus are still having some trouble with that, but Seamus truly loves to walk close to me. And he's just the right height to pet as we walk along:

I found some pretty brown mushrooms, but no reds or purples:

We again left the trail and took off through the forest. Three of the dogs went running ahead and had to be called back. Luckily, they're very good about coming when called. I began to use my silent dog whistle instead of my voice. It kept the woods more peaceful:

Another brown mushroom, this one with some peachy overtones:

There were sections of hardwoods and sections of conifers. Both were mature enough to be almost free of undergrowth:

I had Daphne and Madeline sit for a photo - and also just to see them hold still, however momentarily:

The woods were lovely, dark and deep - and I had absolutely no promises to keep. So we just wandered and enjoyed our day:

Madeline looked so tiny beneath the trees as she chugged along with her head down:

By this time, the dogs were getting pretty darn good at staying close to me:

There were several of this unusual mushroom with its lemon and brown coloration and ragged edges:

Seamus found this vernal pool to be especially attractive. Even Clover, who usually wants to stay out of water, splashed joyously through it. But we weren't done with our hike yet. I'll post Part 3 tomorrow:

A Quick Jaunt Along The St. Regis River

It seems to me that I've been busier since I retired than I ever was before. I've been building a chicken coop, clearing brush, cleaning the barn, mowing the lawn (4 to 5 hours per mowing) - and that's not to mention the regular chores of laundry, shopping, paperwork, cooking, etc. But one beautiful afternoon I put the pooches in the car and drove directly to the Fort Jackson Town Park. I stopped at the edge of the St. Regis River:

I let the dogs out to run - and run they certainly did, at least until I remembered my resolve to keep them within 15 or so feet from me. So I began calling them back over and over and over again:

But the scenery was beautiful and all the dogs (except Clover) began to understand the recently instituted rule that they stay closer to me:

The river was swollen from several weeks of rain. There were very large waves, at least for a river. I wouldn't have wanted to fall in and try to swim:

We followed a trail through the forest alongside the river. Seamus' sore hips and legs were miraculously cured for the duration of the hike. Walking seemed to help instead of hurt him. I suppose what he really needs is more exercise. But on this day he was back to his youthful, happy self:

Clover continued to run full speed, forward and back, forward and back. She always came when I called but then ran too far ahead again. Little Clover would do wonderfully on an obstacle/agility course:

Daphne discovered a vernal pond in the forest, surrounded by large, flat surfaced rocks:

And then we all walked down to the edge of the river. No one, not even Seamus, was foolish enough to go in:

And the forest was spectacular, growing atop a different type of rock than I've seen elsewhere nearby. I used to see that type of rock in Ohio, but not around here:

Lots of Hemlocks lined the trail and we all proceeded happily through the beautiful forest:

But this was just a quick jaunt and we were soon on our way back toward the car, the St. Regis River still our constant companion on the trail:

And of course it was then time to jump in the car and go home. "Aw, Dad. So soon?":

Jenkins Mountain Trail, Part 4

I'd decided that my weakening legs would not carry me to the top of Jenkins Mountain and had turned back toward the trail head. The views were still lovely and I was noticing things I hadn't seen before such as this vernal pond. This was April 30 and their were still no leaves on the deciduous trees in spite of our mild winter and early spring:

The dogs, of course, didn't care one whit about having to turn back early. It was all a wonderful, happy excursion for them in a beautiful setting:

We continued back past the supplemental dam which the beavers had built:

And Seamus waded in for a bit of cooling refreshment:

We again passed that rocky topped peak which I'd formerly thought was Jenkins Mountain and past the largest of the beaver ponds:

Sadly, my legs were feeling weaker by the moment and I no longer regretted having turned back. In fact, I began to wish I'd done so earlier. Daphne and Fergus kept their eyes on me as I began to slow down:

The trail broadened noticeably as we neared the intersection with the Black Pond/Long Pond trail:

Huh? I could only assume that some jokester had made a funny. Probably a Paul Smith's College student:

We were almost to the trail intersection and I was beginning to worry about my legs seeing me all the way back to the car. But the trail was broad, smooth and level so it was a simple matter to keep putting one foot in front of the other as I followed the dogs:

And it was a pleasant woodland, just beginning its spring burst of growth. I'll post more tomorrow: