13.5 Mile Ride on the Erie Canalway Trail (Danube to Mindenville)
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Left Syracuse early enough, and the weather was decent enough, that I was able to get in some riding before dark. I parked at the Herkimer Home State Historic Site - the former home of Revolutionary War hero General Nicholas Herkimer. No surprise, it was basically deserted, though a couple of people showed up while I was getting ready to ride - one to walk his dogs, the others looked like they were checking out the site.
I was hoping to complete the section of the Canalway Trail that runs from Fort Plain to Little Falls - I rode about half of it back in early November. Today I headed east to Mindenville, overlapped a bit of what I'd ridden a month ago, then headed back west part of the way to Lock 17. I turned back before I made it all the way to the end, mostly because it was getting late in the day and I wasn't sure how early the gates at the historic site would be closed.
Riding wasn't too bad, though my mountain bike makes for harder work than my road bikes... but with the snowy sections, patches of soft stone dust, and so on, the wider knobbies were a definite necessity. Along the way I saw lots of evidence of the trail's previous uses as a rail line (lots of old ties buried in the ground along the sides) and remains of some concrete structures - not sure if those were from the railroad or from earlier times when sections of the Erie Canal ran through the area.
On the way to Lock 17 there's a wetlands with an overlook marked as a birdwatching area - I'd definitely like to get back there in warmer weather. For that matter, I'd like to ride the entire trail during a warmer, greener time of the year.
Other than a couple of miles in Fort Plain which are tough to access because of a bridge that washed out during the flooding last June, and the last few miles of this stretch, I've ridden all of the offroad sections of the Canalway Trail between downtown Albany and Rome this year, and a good chunk of the sections between Rome and Rochester. I guess that's one of the pluses to spending a lot of time on my bike this year - and it's also research for an adventure I'm considering for a couple of years from now...
JMH
Showing posts with label local history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label local history. Show all posts
Friday, January 18, 2013
SPEAKING OF BRIDGES...
Feb. 1 Deadline for Public Comments Regarding Portageville Bridge ReplacementFriday, January 18, 2012
Ironically, I became aware of the demolition of the Hojack swing bridge after visiting the Rochester Subway site for an article about another bridge - the Portageville railroad bridge just south of Upper Falls in Letchworth State Park.
The Portageville railroad bridge was built in 1875 to replace a previous wooden bridge that had been destroyed in a fire. Since the park was created in 1907 (after William Pryor Letchworth gave his 1000 acre estate to New York State as public parklands) the bridge has been a part of the park since the beginning, and has long since become an accepted part of the Upper Falls viewshed. I may have only had two mediocre photos of the Hojack swing bridge - but I have many photos of the Portageville bridge.
In 2008 a study showed that the bridge is deteriorating and the state is currently looking at alternatives. Repairing and upgrading the existing bridge is neither financially nor technically feasible. Currently the state is looking at two main options: building a new bridge slightly south of the current one and demolishing the current bridge, or building the new bridge while leaving the current bridge standing.
As iconic as the current bridge is, I have to admit I like the proposed replacement:
(photo/visualization courtesy of NYS DOT)
A number of arguments can be presented for saving the current bridge, in particular the suggestion has been made to turn it into a pedestrian walkway similar to the very successful Walkway Over the Hudson. I think it would be fantastic to have a way for people to enjoy the view down the gorge from above Upper Falls without taking the risk of going out on the railroad bridge. On the other hand, I think the view with both bridges is kind of ugly.
(photo/visualization courtesy of NYS DOT)
Either bridge alone frames the view over the falls fairly nicely, but together they clash. I also suspect that it would take a lot of work and money to bring the current bridge up to the safety standards it would need to meet - the railroad bridge that was used for the Walkway Over the Hudson was in incredibly good shape to begin with. The same was true for the Rosendale railroad trestle, which was acquired by the Walkill Valley Land Trust in 2009 already decked for half its length, declared unsafe in 2010, and closed to pedestrians for almost 3 years while the Trust raised the 1.4 million dollars it needs to renovate the upper structure. Based on the 2008 inspection it seems likely substantially more work would need to be done on the Portageville bridge.
So I'm in favor of an alternate proposition - construct the new bridge and include some sort of walkway or viewing platform in the bridge support structure, and demolish the old bridge I've seen this suggested by several other people; hopefully enough will submit comments to that effect to the DOT will take it seriously and put pressure on Norfolk Southern. Having said that, a very convincing argument for keeping both bridges has been put forth by Donald Pevsner, a railroad preservationist, transportation lawyer, tour operator and former syndicated columnist for Universal Press Syndicate. Either way, my hope is that both the DOT and Norfolk Southern will take the creation of a new walkway/viewing area very seriously.
NYSDOT will make their decision based on the findings of the DEIS and public comments. Comments are due Friday, February 1, 2013 at the address below:
Raymond F. Hessinger, P.E.
Director, Freight & Passenger Rail Bureau
New York State Department of Transportation
50 Wolf Road, POD 54
Albany, New York 12232
-or-
JMH
Rochester's Hojack Swing Bridge Demolished
Friday, January 18, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
For 108 years the Hojack railroad bridge was one of the landmarks of at the mouth of the Genesee River, near the Port of Rochester. Built in 1905 for the New York Central railroad, the swing bridge was designed to connect track on the two side of the river but could rotate 90 degrees to allow boat traffic to pass through. It had been out of use since 1995 and was left in the open position. Starting in 1999 the Coast Guard pursued removal of the bridge and support column because they were hazards to navigation. For a variety of reasons, including a certain amount of public interest in saving the bridge, the demolition order was never carried out. A summary of the struggle to save the bridge can be found here (scroll down below the description of the book and proposed art exhibit.)
Apparently demolition was again pursued in the spring of 2011, but this time very quietly - the news took 6 months to reach the media, and the "Save Our Bridge" found their efforts stonewalled. Demolition of the bridge started in late October last year. Photos of the demolition can be found at the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum's Facebook page, and some of the most recent photos can be found on the Rochester Subway site.
I must admit to mixed feelings about this... on the one hand, the bridge was a rusting hulk in the middle of the river, and it's unlikely anything would have ever been done with it - the cost to renovate it for some other type of use (even if just decorative) would have been prohibitive (some versions of the story behind the current push to rmove the bridge state that CSX was the driving force, having finally realized they'd save more by no longer paying maintainence and insurance fees on a bridge that they'd never use - for that matter, they probably got a nice price for the scrap metal.) But at the same time there's something compelling about these relics of our past and it makes me a bir sad to see them torn down and thrown away - one more connection with those who came before us gone forever.
I think the biggest surprise was that when I dug through my photos I only had two that showed the bridge in any detail, both shot from a good ways away. I'm usually pretty camera-happy when it comes to relics like this. Only explanation I can offer is the location - the landings where the track came on shore is pretty out out of the way from both Ontario Beach Park and the Genesee Riverway Trail, which is where Ann and I would usually be if we were up by the mouth of the river. So this reinforces what I already knew - get photos when I can, since there's no telling when things will change without warning.
JMH
Friday, November 09, 2012
QUIET NIGHT...
2 Mile Walk in the Pine Hills Neighborhood
Friday, November 9, 2012
I had hoped to try going for a run tonight to see how my foot would react, but by the time I left work I was sufficiently tired and hungry that it just wasn't happening... actually, it took some doing for me to eventually convince myself to get off my lazy backside and make an extended walk to the store. I was surprised by how quiet it was... maybe it's early enough that the college kids haven't started partying yet, or maybe people are taking advantage of the long weekend to go away...
One of the reasons I like wandering around outdoors is all the things I end up thinking about and all the things I notice around me - something I think is a lost art, given that most people are endlessly distracted by their music, text messages, phone calls, and so on when they're out and about. As I walk around the Albany neighborhoods one of the things that stands out is how the houses are mostly up on hills, well above street level. And I wonder how that happened - it seems far too regular to be just a coincidence of geography. Were the streets dug down to run below the level of the houses, or was the land under the houses built up higher than the streets? And why? Drainage? Perhaps one of these days I'll do a bit of research about the architectural background of Albany and it's streets and find the answers... for now I just continue to ponder the questions while I'm out walking around.
JMH
2 Mile Walk in the Pine Hills Neighborhood
Friday, November 9, 2012
I had hoped to try going for a run tonight to see how my foot would react, but by the time I left work I was sufficiently tired and hungry that it just wasn't happening... actually, it took some doing for me to eventually convince myself to get off my lazy backside and make an extended walk to the store. I was surprised by how quiet it was... maybe it's early enough that the college kids haven't started partying yet, or maybe people are taking advantage of the long weekend to go away...
One of the reasons I like wandering around outdoors is all the things I end up thinking about and all the things I notice around me - something I think is a lost art, given that most people are endlessly distracted by their music, text messages, phone calls, and so on when they're out and about. As I walk around the Albany neighborhoods one of the things that stands out is how the houses are mostly up on hills, well above street level. And I wonder how that happened - it seems far too regular to be just a coincidence of geography. Were the streets dug down to run below the level of the houses, or was the land under the houses built up higher than the streets? And why? Drainage? Perhaps one of these days I'll do a bit of research about the architectural background of Albany and it's streets and find the answers... for now I just continue to ponder the questions while I'm out walking around.
JMH
Sunday, April 08, 2012
WINDY!
16.7 Mile Ride on the Erie Canalway Trail (Utica-Rome) & Around Utica Marsh WMA
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Finally got back out on my bike - and what a day to do it! The Canalway trail heads basically west from N Genesee St, and there was a wicked headwind blasting east... made for very tough going on the way out, though the trip back was fantastic - I absolutely flew along the bike path with that tailwind.
I took a brief detour down into Utica Marsh and along Barnes Ave to the closed bridge. Apparently back in November 2010 an inspection showed that the bridge over the CSX tracks was unsafe and could potentially fail, there was no money and little incentive to repair/replace it, and the city gave the businesses down Barnes Ave (primarily used auto parts aka junk yards) a couple of weeks notice that they had to vacate their property. From the sound of things, the amount of time that's passed, and the fact that just about every structure along the road has been demolished - I'd guess there are no plans to ever reopen Barnes Ave. The landowners were supposed to go into the process of getting reimbursed via the state's eminent domain process. (More info can be found in the Utica Observer Dispatch article via the link, as well as in an earlier article when it was first announced the bridge would be closed.) While I miss the convenient access to Utica Marsh, I'm kind of pleased that it looks like the state is going to simply reclaim the land as part of the floodplain (hopefully after cleaning up the rest of the junk left behind.) The marsh is still accessible from the Canalway trail, and the lack of automobile access seems to have cut down on the number of sketchy characters hanging around down there - I know I wasn't always totally comfortable leaving my car at the Utica Marsh parking lot, and many of the comments I've seen about the closure have mentioned drug deals and prostitution, and at least one of the junkyards was destroyed in a series of arson fires last year.
I had planned to turn around early, possibly at Lock 20, but in the end decided to ride all the way to the parking area on Oriskany Rd before turning around. And as I mentioned previously, the ride back to the park-and-ride lot was a joy - with the tailwind I was pushing 15 mph pretty consistently. Best of all, my legs felt like I could have kept going for another 5-10 miles without too much strain - a reassuring observation, given the riding I've got coming up over the next two months...
JMH
16.7 Mile Ride on the Erie Canalway Trail (Utica-Rome) & Around Utica Marsh WMA
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Finally got back out on my bike - and what a day to do it! The Canalway trail heads basically west from N Genesee St, and there was a wicked headwind blasting east... made for very tough going on the way out, though the trip back was fantastic - I absolutely flew along the bike path with that tailwind.
I took a brief detour down into Utica Marsh and along Barnes Ave to the closed bridge. Apparently back in November 2010 an inspection showed that the bridge over the CSX tracks was unsafe and could potentially fail, there was no money and little incentive to repair/replace it, and the city gave the businesses down Barnes Ave (primarily used auto parts aka junk yards) a couple of weeks notice that they had to vacate their property. From the sound of things, the amount of time that's passed, and the fact that just about every structure along the road has been demolished - I'd guess there are no plans to ever reopen Barnes Ave. The landowners were supposed to go into the process of getting reimbursed via the state's eminent domain process. (More info can be found in the Utica Observer Dispatch article via the link, as well as in an earlier article when it was first announced the bridge would be closed.) While I miss the convenient access to Utica Marsh, I'm kind of pleased that it looks like the state is going to simply reclaim the land as part of the floodplain (hopefully after cleaning up the rest of the junk left behind.) The marsh is still accessible from the Canalway trail, and the lack of automobile access seems to have cut down on the number of sketchy characters hanging around down there - I know I wasn't always totally comfortable leaving my car at the Utica Marsh parking lot, and many of the comments I've seen about the closure have mentioned drug deals and prostitution, and at least one of the junkyards was destroyed in a series of arson fires last year.
I had planned to turn around early, possibly at Lock 20, but in the end decided to ride all the way to the parking area on Oriskany Rd before turning around. And as I mentioned previously, the ride back to the park-and-ride lot was a joy - with the tailwind I was pushing 15 mph pretty consistently. Best of all, my legs felt like I could have kept going for another 5-10 miles without too much strain - a reassuring observation, given the riding I've got coming up over the next two months...
JMH
Saturday, March 10, 2012
HEADING SOUTH ALONG THE HUDSON
A Brief Visit to the Athens Riverfront Park
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Stopped briefy at the Athen Riverfront Park. Saw a few gulls out on the water and had a nice view of the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse out on the river. The lighthouse is owned by the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society, which focuses on restoring and maintaining the lighthouse (which dates back to 1874.)
JMH
A Brief Visit to the Athens Riverfront Park
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Stopped briefy at the Athen Riverfront Park. Saw a few gulls out on the water and had a nice view of the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse out on the river. The lighthouse is owned by the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society, which focuses on restoring and maintaining the lighthouse (which dates back to 1874.)
JMH
Sunday, February 12, 2012
WINTER CHILL... BUT NO SNOW
3.6 Mile Walk at Peebles Island State Park
Sunday, February 12, 2012
I had originally planned to do the Hoot Toot & Whistle snowshoe race this morning, despite the forecast of crummy trail conditions... and then it turned into an icy trail race last night, and the slight motivation I felt to make a four hour round trip to Readsboro vanished... after all, I can run plenty of trails a lot closer to home.
While a so-called "arctic chill" settling in for the day (incredible how the weather guys are exaggerating everything at all winter-like) wasn't all that bad, the wind was absolutely brutal - so I decided a walk was a better option, and headed over to Peebles Island to spend some time at the confluence of the Erie Canal and the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. I wandered around the perimeter of the island, enjoying the views when I wasn't getting hammered by frigid windchills (mostly on the far end of the island.) Spotted gulls and geese in the water between the island and the Waterford waterfront, as well as a few ducks and a pair of mergansers. Heard quite a few birds in the woods, but only saw a sizeable group of robins. I figured the deer would stay hidden, but I spotted them near the end of my walk, foraging in the woods - must be close to a dozen of them on the island, which may explain why all the lawns around the are covered in deer scat.
There was lots of signs of the flooding that happened last August and September. Mud covering areas that should be grassy, debris that washed up with the floodwaters - given that the Waterford waterfront was underwater, I think it's safe to say that all the low-lying areas on the island were also flooded.
A number of historic structures are looking the worse for wear. One of the buildings in the Matton Shipyards has collapsed (admittedly, it's been several years since I've been there - I have no idea how long it's been that way.) The roof of a portion of the Cluett & Peabody bleachery has collapsed, though from the photos I've seen online that's at least 3-4 years old. I know finances are very tight these days, but I hope the state finds a way to stabilize these historic buildings. Much of our history has been lost in the rush to demolish the old and it would be a shame if these met the same fate due to the inactivity of those given stewardship.
It seems like I always end up at Peebles Island either in the winter or the summer - sometime I need to see what it looks like in another season.
JMH
3.6 Mile Walk at Peebles Island State Park
Sunday, February 12, 2012
I had originally planned to do the Hoot Toot & Whistle snowshoe race this morning, despite the forecast of crummy trail conditions... and then it turned into an icy trail race last night, and the slight motivation I felt to make a four hour round trip to Readsboro vanished... after all, I can run plenty of trails a lot closer to home.
While a so-called "arctic chill" settling in for the day (incredible how the weather guys are exaggerating everything at all winter-like) wasn't all that bad, the wind was absolutely brutal - so I decided a walk was a better option, and headed over to Peebles Island to spend some time at the confluence of the Erie Canal and the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. I wandered around the perimeter of the island, enjoying the views when I wasn't getting hammered by frigid windchills (mostly on the far end of the island.) Spotted gulls and geese in the water between the island and the Waterford waterfront, as well as a few ducks and a pair of mergansers. Heard quite a few birds in the woods, but only saw a sizeable group of robins. I figured the deer would stay hidden, but I spotted them near the end of my walk, foraging in the woods - must be close to a dozen of them on the island, which may explain why all the lawns around the are covered in deer scat.
There was lots of signs of the flooding that happened last August and September. Mud covering areas that should be grassy, debris that washed up with the floodwaters - given that the Waterford waterfront was underwater, I think it's safe to say that all the low-lying areas on the island were also flooded.
A number of historic structures are looking the worse for wear. One of the buildings in the Matton Shipyards has collapsed (admittedly, it's been several years since I've been there - I have no idea how long it's been that way.) The roof of a portion of the Cluett & Peabody bleachery has collapsed, though from the photos I've seen online that's at least 3-4 years old. I know finances are very tight these days, but I hope the state finds a way to stabilize these historic buildings. Much of our history has been lost in the rush to demolish the old and it would be a shame if these met the same fate due to the inactivity of those given stewardship.
It seems like I always end up at Peebles Island either in the winter or the summer - sometime I need to see what it looks like in another season.
JMH
Saturday, September 03, 2011
MOHAWK VALLEY FLOOD DAMAGE
Fort Hunter & the Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Saturday, September 3, 2011
After running some errands I decided I wanted to ride somewhere different today, so I hopped on the Thruway and headed west toward Fort Hunter and the Schoharie Crossing Historic Site, planning to park at either the boat launch on the Mohawk River or at one of the parking lots for the Historic Site (which is notable because it showcases remnants of both the original 1820's Clinton's Ditch Erie Canal and the 1840's Enlarged Erie Canal, as well as the current Barge Canal - one of the only three places in the state where all three alignments of the canal can be seen at the same time. (A good site with more information and some nice photos can be found here.) In retrospect, I should have known better than to head to a spot along the river, after my experiences earlier in the week...
The first hint that my plans would have to be modified came when I turned onto route 5S and saw signs warning that the road was closed ahead. No surprise, the bridge across the Schoharie Creek was closed. Turning off into Fort Hunter, I saw indications of lots of flooding, and when I reached the headquarters for the Historic Site it was obvious the area had taken major damage - the road was packed dirt and gravel, and where the parking lot used to be was a sizeable hole in the ground with huge chunks of pavement scattered across the surface.
I couldn't tell if the remains of the aqueduct had taken more damage - the path was completely washed out so I couldn't get any closer, and the angle of the sun made it tough to see. I stopped and took some photos, then drove around for a while looking for somewhere to park - no luck, just lots of folks cleaning up damage and work crews repairing bridges and roads.
Headed over the the Yankee Hill Lock (the remains of Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 28) and found those closed as well. The footbridge across the lock had either been removed or washed away, and from the thick mud in spots it was clear that much of the area was underwater earlier in the week.
So no luck riding the Erie Canalway trail in Montgomery County... maybe later in the fall, after more of the damage has been cleared away or repaired...
JMH
Fort Hunter & the Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Saturday, September 3, 2011
After running some errands I decided I wanted to ride somewhere different today, so I hopped on the Thruway and headed west toward Fort Hunter and the Schoharie Crossing Historic Site, planning to park at either the boat launch on the Mohawk River or at one of the parking lots for the Historic Site (which is notable because it showcases remnants of both the original 1820's Clinton's Ditch Erie Canal and the 1840's Enlarged Erie Canal, as well as the current Barge Canal - one of the only three places in the state where all three alignments of the canal can be seen at the same time. (A good site with more information and some nice photos can be found here.) In retrospect, I should have known better than to head to a spot along the river, after my experiences earlier in the week...
The first hint that my plans would have to be modified came when I turned onto route 5S and saw signs warning that the road was closed ahead. No surprise, the bridge across the Schoharie Creek was closed. Turning off into Fort Hunter, I saw indications of lots of flooding, and when I reached the headquarters for the Historic Site it was obvious the area had taken major damage - the road was packed dirt and gravel, and where the parking lot used to be was a sizeable hole in the ground with huge chunks of pavement scattered across the surface.
I couldn't tell if the remains of the aqueduct had taken more damage - the path was completely washed out so I couldn't get any closer, and the angle of the sun made it tough to see. I stopped and took some photos, then drove around for a while looking for somewhere to park - no luck, just lots of folks cleaning up damage and work crews repairing bridges and roads.
Headed over the the Yankee Hill Lock (the remains of Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 28) and found those closed as well. The footbridge across the lock had either been removed or washed away, and from the thick mud in spots it was clear that much of the area was underwater earlier in the week.
So no luck riding the Erie Canalway trail in Montgomery County... maybe later in the fall, after more of the damage has been cleared away or repaired...
JMH
Saturday, September 04, 2010
1.3 Mile Walk on the Erie Canalway Trail (Utica)
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Inertia strikes again... though with today turning out as cold and windy as it did, it was probably for the best that I ended up going for a short chilly walk instead of a longer but even chillier ride...
Utica Harbor Lock, no longer in use... it originally provided access between the Barge Canal and Utica Harbor. It's unusual in that it's the only lock on the canal which wasn't used for navigation; it also has a unique design, with a canal-side one-piece door that raises and lowers, and a harbor-side two-piece door that swings open and closed.
Geese flying overhead. Given how chilly it was maybe they were contemplating migrating south...
The canal and Canalway Trail running under I790... and a rather threatening sky.
Imminent sunset bathes Utica Marsh in golden light... at least until the sun disappeared behind more clouds.
A green heron high overhead, trying to decide if I was enough of a threat to merit flying off.
Sunset over the canal, viewed from Utica Harbor Lock.
JMH
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Inertia strikes again... though with today turning out as cold and windy as it did, it was probably for the best that I ended up going for a short chilly walk instead of a longer but even chillier ride...
Utica Harbor Lock, no longer in use... it originally provided access between the Barge Canal and Utica Harbor. It's unusual in that it's the only lock on the canal which wasn't used for navigation; it also has a unique design, with a canal-side one-piece door that raises and lowers, and a harbor-side two-piece door that swings open and closed.
Geese flying overhead. Given how chilly it was maybe they were contemplating migrating south...
The canal and Canalway Trail running under I790... and a rather threatening sky.
Imminent sunset bathes Utica Marsh in golden light... at least until the sun disappeared behind more clouds.
A green heron high overhead, trying to decide if I was enough of a threat to merit flying off.
Sunset over the canal, viewed from Utica Harbor Lock.
JMH
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
1.2 Mile Walk at Ann Lee Pond
Monday, June 21, 2010
OK, if I don't want to smell like bug spray I need to find some other way to keep from getting chewed up by the $#%@&**@$!! mosquitoes. If only I could train a squad of dragonflies to follow me around and eat them...
Since it was buggy I stayed out of the woods... walked through the fields to the western end of the crazy bridge and then spent a while out on the bridge, both because I was enjoying it and because the bugs didn't seem to be out over the water. It's amzing how the pond has gotten choked with water lillies and duckweed since I was there last. Didn't spot much in the water, but I didn't expect to (it was getting toward dusk, not much reason for the turtles and fish to be out and about.) I did spot a group of wood ducks about halfway between the bridge and the far shore of the pond... at least I think they were wood ducks, it was hard to be sure even with my camera on full zoom.
The wildflowers were blooming in the fields... lots of daisies and black-eyed susans. I've got to get back there during the day sometime to get some photos with better lighting - what can I say, fields of wildflowers make me happy.
Walking along the edge of the pond I startled a sizeable group of geese and goslings (three adults, and I think seven youngsters?) into the pond. One group of goslings was starting to have their adult colors coming in... the warm spring really got them off to an early start this year. They clearly found it work to push through the duckweed, so the not-so-little squirts all ended up in a line behind an adult... fun to watch. I walked all the way down to the small bridge near the entrance to the woods, and startled a deer that was in the swamp beyond the bridge. I don't think she knew what to make of me when I laid down on the bridge to get the clearest shots I could (under the overhanging foliage.)
One of these days I'm going to have to go over there when I have enough time to wander down to the Shaker Historic Site... while it's not as elaborate as the Hancock Shaker Village over in MA, I'm still interested in taking a look at the old buildings.
JMH
Monday, June 21, 2010
OK, if I don't want to smell like bug spray I need to find some other way to keep from getting chewed up by the $#%@&**@$!! mosquitoes. If only I could train a squad of dragonflies to follow me around and eat them...
Since it was buggy I stayed out of the woods... walked through the fields to the western end of the crazy bridge and then spent a while out on the bridge, both because I was enjoying it and because the bugs didn't seem to be out over the water. It's amzing how the pond has gotten choked with water lillies and duckweed since I was there last. Didn't spot much in the water, but I didn't expect to (it was getting toward dusk, not much reason for the turtles and fish to be out and about.) I did spot a group of wood ducks about halfway between the bridge and the far shore of the pond... at least I think they were wood ducks, it was hard to be sure even with my camera on full zoom.
The wildflowers were blooming in the fields... lots of daisies and black-eyed susans. I've got to get back there during the day sometime to get some photos with better lighting - what can I say, fields of wildflowers make me happy.
Walking along the edge of the pond I startled a sizeable group of geese and goslings (three adults, and I think seven youngsters?) into the pond. One group of goslings was starting to have their adult colors coming in... the warm spring really got them off to an early start this year. They clearly found it work to push through the duckweed, so the not-so-little squirts all ended up in a line behind an adult... fun to watch. I walked all the way down to the small bridge near the entrance to the woods, and startled a deer that was in the swamp beyond the bridge. I don't think she knew what to make of me when I laid down on the bridge to get the clearest shots I could (under the overhanging foliage.)
One of these days I'm going to have to go over there when I have enough time to wander down to the Shaker Historic Site... while it's not as elaborate as the Hancock Shaker Village over in MA, I'm still interested in taking a look at the old buildings.
JMH
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
10 Mile Run at the Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Another great afternoon/evening for a run, though it did get a bit chilly as the sun started to go down - I ended up very glad I'd stuffed a vest into my waistpack. I was a bit surprised at how few people there were at the Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve, and many of the folks who were there were fishing... in the several hours I was there I only passed half a dozen walkers.
I started out running east on the old towpath down to Clute's Dry Dock and could tell it was going to be a good time early on, since there were lots of birds around and even a couple of turtles out in the water (both snapping turtles and smaller painted turtles.) The birds were mostly the usual suspects (chickadees, robins, red-winged blackbirds, grackles, canada geese, and mallards) with the exception of a pair of blue-winged teals, and I saw at least one great blue heron as well (not that they're unusual, but currently we don't have as many in the area as we do during warmer weather.) I was very surprised at how low the water levels were, especially after all the high water we've had over the last few months - this was easily the lowest I've ever seen the water in the preserve.
I looped around on the service road back to the main entrance and Whipple bridge before following the towpath west toward the ruins of old Erie Canal Lock 19. I was a bit surprised that I didn't see more waterfowl, but maybe it's still early in the season... time will tell. I did spot a group of deer running through the fields and woods on the far side of the water, and a painted turtle swimming in the water at the bottom of the old lock. From there I headed down the service road, with a brief stop at the parking area at the site of the old Vischer ferry (1790-1922, according to the the sign there) and brief site of a bridge across the river (from 1900-1902.) The river was also very low, possibly because the canal hasn't opened yet.
Continued on down the towpath to the rocky outcropping across the river from the Lock 7 dam. The eagle was perched in a tree on the island below the middle of the dam, and I'm pretty sure I spotted a couple of herons arguing over territory at the base of the dam. Eventually I got chilly enough that I decided to head back (well, I also wanted to get back to the car before it got too dark.) On the way back I spotted a group of mergansers in the river. It was pretty much full dark by the time I got back to the Whipple bridge, but the path is easy enough that I never needed to break out my headlamp, though I did slow down a bit in some of the more root-filled sections.
I'll have to try to get back out here during the next month or so... once the warm weather kicks in the bugs are deadly and I won't be able to run here until late August.
JMH
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Another great afternoon/evening for a run, though it did get a bit chilly as the sun started to go down - I ended up very glad I'd stuffed a vest into my waistpack. I was a bit surprised at how few people there were at the Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve, and many of the folks who were there were fishing... in the several hours I was there I only passed half a dozen walkers.
I started out running east on the old towpath down to Clute's Dry Dock and could tell it was going to be a good time early on, since there were lots of birds around and even a couple of turtles out in the water (both snapping turtles and smaller painted turtles.) The birds were mostly the usual suspects (chickadees, robins, red-winged blackbirds, grackles, canada geese, and mallards) with the exception of a pair of blue-winged teals, and I saw at least one great blue heron as well (not that they're unusual, but currently we don't have as many in the area as we do during warmer weather.) I was very surprised at how low the water levels were, especially after all the high water we've had over the last few months - this was easily the lowest I've ever seen the water in the preserve.
I looped around on the service road back to the main entrance and Whipple bridge before following the towpath west toward the ruins of old Erie Canal Lock 19. I was a bit surprised that I didn't see more waterfowl, but maybe it's still early in the season... time will tell. I did spot a group of deer running through the fields and woods on the far side of the water, and a painted turtle swimming in the water at the bottom of the old lock. From there I headed down the service road, with a brief stop at the parking area at the site of the old Vischer ferry (1790-1922, according to the the sign there) and brief site of a bridge across the river (from 1900-1902.) The river was also very low, possibly because the canal hasn't opened yet.
Continued on down the towpath to the rocky outcropping across the river from the Lock 7 dam. The eagle was perched in a tree on the island below the middle of the dam, and I'm pretty sure I spotted a couple of herons arguing over territory at the base of the dam. Eventually I got chilly enough that I decided to head back (well, I also wanted to get back to the car before it got too dark.) On the way back I spotted a group of mergansers in the river. It was pretty much full dark by the time I got back to the Whipple bridge, but the path is easy enough that I never needed to break out my headlamp, though I did slow down a bit in some of the more root-filled sections.
I'll have to try to get back out here during the next month or so... once the warm weather kicks in the bugs are deadly and I won't be able to run here until late August.
JMH
Saturday, March 27, 2010
A Brief Visit to the Ashantee Five Arch Bridge & Ashantee Falls
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Ashantee is a small town south of Rochester near Avon, noted in Rich and Sue Freeman's 200 Waterfalls in Central & Western NY as being the site of a man-made waterfall over a dam and the cut stone Five Arch Bridge which was built in 1857 to carry the Genesee Valley Railroad across Conesus Creek. At its peak the bridge carried 13 trains a day across the creek, before many of the local railroads were shut down in the mid- and late-1900's. This line was closed in 1941 and now the large stone bridge is part of a small park. Today the creek was absolutely roaring under it, which precluded getting a closer look from the creekbed.
Across the road and upstream slightly water was also roaring over the dam, but we were only able to catch glimpses of the waterfall, since both sides of the creek are private property - a residence on one bank (complete with a bright red water wheel near creek level) and a sprawling antique shop on the other. The guidebook recommends viewing the falls from the windows of the antique shop, but they were closed, so we had to settle for brief glimpses of the creek. At least we had a nice view of the almost-full moon high in the sky...
JMH
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Ashantee is a small town south of Rochester near Avon, noted in Rich and Sue Freeman's 200 Waterfalls in Central & Western NY as being the site of a man-made waterfall over a dam and the cut stone Five Arch Bridge which was built in 1857 to carry the Genesee Valley Railroad across Conesus Creek. At its peak the bridge carried 13 trains a day across the creek, before many of the local railroads were shut down in the mid- and late-1900's. This line was closed in 1941 and now the large stone bridge is part of a small park. Today the creek was absolutely roaring under it, which precluded getting a closer look from the creekbed.
Across the road and upstream slightly water was also roaring over the dam, but we were only able to catch glimpses of the waterfall, since both sides of the creek are private property - a residence on one bank (complete with a bright red water wheel near creek level) and a sprawling antique shop on the other. The guidebook recommends viewing the falls from the windows of the antique shop, but they were closed, so we had to settle for brief glimpses of the creek. At least we had a nice view of the almost-full moon high in the sky...
JMH
Sunday, March 21, 2010
21.7 Mile Ride Along the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path & to Cohoes Falls Overlook Park
Sunday, March 21, 2010
After snowshoeing, riding, and running for the last three days I would have preferred to take today as a rest day... but between going back to work tomorrow and a forecast of rain for the next two days I decided to get out on the bike instead... the end of April (and the Flower City River Challenge Paddle Triathlon) is approaching much too quickly!
I ended up over at the Niskayuna Lions Park once again, and headed east along the bike path toward Cohoes. Lots of birds along the way, especially red-winged blackbirds. The unseasonably warm weather has also managed to melt most of the ice that had built up along the shores of the Mohawk River. Of course, the tradeoff is that the river is very high right now, which is why I headed over to Cohoes Falls. In late spring, summer, and fall, the waterfall is typically almost dry, because water gets diverted from the river into both the canal (which bypasses the falls using a flight of locks to the east) and the hydroelectric plant near Cohoes Falls Overlook Park. As I rode east from Colonie Mohawk River Park, I could hear water going over the Crescent Dam (the point where water gets diverted from the river) so I was pretty sure the falls would be impressive.
Spent a few minutes at the falls taking pictures and just enjoying the view... definitely a lot more water than I remember seeing the last time I was there. Someone was riding a mountain bike on the cliff across the river; one of these days I need to get over there and check out the trails. Unfortunately, the relatively new Falls View Park doesn't re-open until May (there's a gate across the bridge to the park) so I had to get what side views I could through the fence running along N Mohawk Street. All in all it was really impressive, so much so that I decided to ride up the road to check out the Crescent Dam. Sadly, the views there were not as good, which is unfortunate since more water than I've ever seen was going over the top of the dam.
The ride back to the Lions Park was tough, mainly because the worst hills are in that direction... first the climb away from the river back to the bike path (which I struggled up not realizing that I wasn't in my lowest gear... d'oh!) and then after passing Colonie Mohawk River Park and heading down toward the riverbank again a series of climbs in short succession to get back to the old railroad grade (the Troy & Schenectady Railroad ran along the route of the bike path from 1842 until the 1970's/1980's, when the final sections that remained operational were shut down and abandoned. The rail line actually crossed the Northway just south of the Twin Bridges when it was first built in the 1960's, until New York State told the owners they needed to build a bridge or a tunnel for safety reasons and the financially prudent decision was made to break the line at that point instead. For more about the T&S, check this site which has quite a bit of info.) Along the way I stopped a couple of times to take pictures of birds and some interesting cloud formations. I was very pleased to finally get back on the relatively level stretch of path from Forts Ferry Road back to the park.
Even though it was getting a bit chilly as the sun went down I decided to ride a few more miles out to Lock 7 Rd and back, which gave me a chance to check out the construction site for the new Niska Island bridge... several muskrats were swimming around, and while I was watching them a number of ducks and geese flew overhead, presumably heading toward wherever they were planning to spend the night. A little further down there was a decent-sized group of mallards in the stream alongside the path, but no mergansers today. I would have liked to keep going all the way to the base of the old landfill, but tired legs, failing light, and ever-colder temperatures convinced me to head back. In any case, I still did my longest ride this year, with a bit of hill work... now I just have to keep at it once work starts back up again tomorrow!
JMH
Sunday, March 21, 2010
After snowshoeing, riding, and running for the last three days I would have preferred to take today as a rest day... but between going back to work tomorrow and a forecast of rain for the next two days I decided to get out on the bike instead... the end of April (and the Flower City River Challenge Paddle Triathlon) is approaching much too quickly!
I ended up over at the Niskayuna Lions Park once again, and headed east along the bike path toward Cohoes. Lots of birds along the way, especially red-winged blackbirds. The unseasonably warm weather has also managed to melt most of the ice that had built up along the shores of the Mohawk River. Of course, the tradeoff is that the river is very high right now, which is why I headed over to Cohoes Falls. In late spring, summer, and fall, the waterfall is typically almost dry, because water gets diverted from the river into both the canal (which bypasses the falls using a flight of locks to the east) and the hydroelectric plant near Cohoes Falls Overlook Park. As I rode east from Colonie Mohawk River Park, I could hear water going over the Crescent Dam (the point where water gets diverted from the river) so I was pretty sure the falls would be impressive.
Spent a few minutes at the falls taking pictures and just enjoying the view... definitely a lot more water than I remember seeing the last time I was there. Someone was riding a mountain bike on the cliff across the river; one of these days I need to get over there and check out the trails. Unfortunately, the relatively new Falls View Park doesn't re-open until May (there's a gate across the bridge to the park) so I had to get what side views I could through the fence running along N Mohawk Street. All in all it was really impressive, so much so that I decided to ride up the road to check out the Crescent Dam. Sadly, the views there were not as good, which is unfortunate since more water than I've ever seen was going over the top of the dam.
The ride back to the Lions Park was tough, mainly because the worst hills are in that direction... first the climb away from the river back to the bike path (which I struggled up not realizing that I wasn't in my lowest gear... d'oh!) and then after passing Colonie Mohawk River Park and heading down toward the riverbank again a series of climbs in short succession to get back to the old railroad grade (the Troy & Schenectady Railroad ran along the route of the bike path from 1842 until the 1970's/1980's, when the final sections that remained operational were shut down and abandoned. The rail line actually crossed the Northway just south of the Twin Bridges when it was first built in the 1960's, until New York State told the owners they needed to build a bridge or a tunnel for safety reasons and the financially prudent decision was made to break the line at that point instead. For more about the T&S, check this site which has quite a bit of info.) Along the way I stopped a couple of times to take pictures of birds and some interesting cloud formations. I was very pleased to finally get back on the relatively level stretch of path from Forts Ferry Road back to the park.
Even though it was getting a bit chilly as the sun went down I decided to ride a few more miles out to Lock 7 Rd and back, which gave me a chance to check out the construction site for the new Niska Island bridge... several muskrats were swimming around, and while I was watching them a number of ducks and geese flew overhead, presumably heading toward wherever they were planning to spend the night. A little further down there was a decent-sized group of mallards in the stream alongside the path, but no mergansers today. I would have liked to keep going all the way to the base of the old landfill, but tired legs, failing light, and ever-colder temperatures convinced me to head back. In any case, I still did my longest ride this year, with a bit of hill work... now I just have to keep at it once work starts back up again tomorrow!
JMH
Monday, March 08, 2010
SUNSHINE, BIRDS, & DEER
1.2 Mile Walk at Mendon Ponds Park
Monday, March 8, 2010
For some reason my legs were a bit tired today (OK, that was no surprise) so Ann and I decided to go for a relatively easy walk at Mendon Ponds Park, with a bit of feeding the birds and checking out the deer thrown in for good measure.
Given what a gorgeous sunny day it was, I guess we shouldn't have been surprised to find lots of other folks there as well, many with small children in tow. We started at the Nature Center and headed down the path, spotting a deer a ways off immediately. When we stopped at the spot where people feed the birds, we were a bit disappointed that the birds didn't seem all that interested... we had a couple of chickadees come to our hands but that was it. Of course, with all the seed on the ground it may just have been a case of the birds being so well fed that they didn't have any need to take food out of our hands. We spotted lots of them while we were there - there were chickadees, titmouses, cardinals, juncos, sparrows, downy woodpeckers, and nuthatches all around us. We also saw a couple more deer, including one that appears to have figured out that people can mean free food, because it kept wondering out onto the path not far from where all the people were, even after getting chased by a toddler at one point.
From there we headed over to the other spot where we've fed the birds, catching sight of half a dozen deer along the way. Apparently they were enjoying the warm sunny weather too! We had a similar reaction from the birds at the 2nd location, and the usual spot was in the shade (and thus a bit chilly) so we tried a sunny spot nearby. Ann had a titmouse come to her hand; I gave up after a bit and put my seeds on the top of a fence post, then sat on the fence and watched the birds come in to eat. I also watched a pair of nuthatches at a suet feeder someone had hung in the trees a little ways off.
We drove the long way through the park to see what we could see on our way out, and spotted even more deer. There were two by the Cobblestone House parking lot, so we pulled in and spent a while watching them. Ann even put some seed on the snowbank and managed to lure the smaller one over to eat... given how unconcerned they were about our presence (as well as people running and riding by on the road nearby) I suspect these two have done the "look cute for the humans and get a snack" trick before, though the larger deer was much more interested in the grass where a patch of snow had melted.
The Monroe County website refers to Mendon Ponds Park as the crowning jewel of the county parks system, and I will definitely agree that it's one of the more beautiful places to go in Monroe County (which is saying a lot... western NY has many wonderful parks and greenspaces.) There's an excellent article by John Sheret at the Crooked Lake Review which discusses the history of the park and includes a number of cool historical photos. At the end of the month I'll be over at Mendon again, for the Spring Forward 15k... though that only runs small part of its 9.3 miles through the park. On the other hand, the Medved Madness 15 mile trail race in early May will once again give me a chance to see the Mendon trails up close and personal - and if the snow and ice that are there right now are any indication, it should once again turn out to be the Medved Mudness trail race I've run for the past three years.
JMH
1.2 Mile Walk at Mendon Ponds Park
Monday, March 8, 2010
For some reason my legs were a bit tired today (OK, that was no surprise) so Ann and I decided to go for a relatively easy walk at Mendon Ponds Park, with a bit of feeding the birds and checking out the deer thrown in for good measure.
Given what a gorgeous sunny day it was, I guess we shouldn't have been surprised to find lots of other folks there as well, many with small children in tow. We started at the Nature Center and headed down the path, spotting a deer a ways off immediately. When we stopped at the spot where people feed the birds, we were a bit disappointed that the birds didn't seem all that interested... we had a couple of chickadees come to our hands but that was it. Of course, with all the seed on the ground it may just have been a case of the birds being so well fed that they didn't have any need to take food out of our hands. We spotted lots of them while we were there - there were chickadees, titmouses, cardinals, juncos, sparrows, downy woodpeckers, and nuthatches all around us. We also saw a couple more deer, including one that appears to have figured out that people can mean free food, because it kept wondering out onto the path not far from where all the people were, even after getting chased by a toddler at one point.
From there we headed over to the other spot where we've fed the birds, catching sight of half a dozen deer along the way. Apparently they were enjoying the warm sunny weather too! We had a similar reaction from the birds at the 2nd location, and the usual spot was in the shade (and thus a bit chilly) so we tried a sunny spot nearby. Ann had a titmouse come to her hand; I gave up after a bit and put my seeds on the top of a fence post, then sat on the fence and watched the birds come in to eat. I also watched a pair of nuthatches at a suet feeder someone had hung in the trees a little ways off.
We drove the long way through the park to see what we could see on our way out, and spotted even more deer. There were two by the Cobblestone House parking lot, so we pulled in and spent a while watching them. Ann even put some seed on the snowbank and managed to lure the smaller one over to eat... given how unconcerned they were about our presence (as well as people running and riding by on the road nearby) I suspect these two have done the "look cute for the humans and get a snack" trick before, though the larger deer was much more interested in the grass where a patch of snow had melted.
The Monroe County website refers to Mendon Ponds Park as the crowning jewel of the county parks system, and I will definitely agree that it's one of the more beautiful places to go in Monroe County (which is saying a lot... western NY has many wonderful parks and greenspaces.) There's an excellent article by John Sheret at the Crooked Lake Review which discusses the history of the park and includes a number of cool historical photos. At the end of the month I'll be over at Mendon again, for the Spring Forward 15k... though that only runs small part of its 9.3 miles through the park. On the other hand, the Medved Madness 15 mile trail race in early May will once again give me a chance to see the Mendon trails up close and personal - and if the snow and ice that are there right now are any indication, it should once again turn out to be the Medved Mudness trail race I've run for the past three years.
JMH
Sunday, February 21, 2010
6.4 Mile Run at Schodack Island State Park
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Headed to Schodack Island State Park just down the Hudson River before going home, hoping to get in some more snowshoeing... alas, all I found was mud and lots of ice, so I ended up running instead. It was cold and windy in the parking lot and down at the boat launch, but not so bad most of the time on the trails. Passed a decent number of folks walking dogs (a popular activity there, from what I've seen in the past) and one fellow with a birding scope on his shoulder (though how he expected to hear birds is beyond me, given that he had earphones on.)
Along the way I saw an old brick chimney that I missed the last time I was there, right on the banks of the Hudson... I suspect the remnant of one of the many ice houses that used to line the banks of the river. (See the map on page 3 of Daniel Calandro's Hudson River Valley Ice Houses and Ice Industry... there are ice houses marked on what it now the state park, between New Baltimore and Castleton on the map. Calandro notes that there were 13 ice house complexes on the islands that have since been combined to form the park.) Commerical ice cutting, storage, and shipping was a major industry in the upper Hudson Valley in the 1800's, with Hudson River ice shipped all over the world. The industry died out in the early 1900's with the advent of refrigeration/freezer technology and man-made ice. Calandro's paper is well worth a look for anyone interested in local history, as it not only discusses the ice houses and the industry as a whole but also describes in detail the techniques that were used to harvest, store, and transport the ice... the ingenuity of our forefathers was really quite impressive! The paper is part of the Hudson River Valley Institute library, which contains a lot of cool info about the history of the Hudson River Valley. Well worth checking out! The second time I passed the chimney I tried to bushwhack down to it to get better photos, but it was surrounded by brambles and after getting jabbed numerous times I gave up... running gear is not the clothing to brave a thicket of thorn bushes.
I'd been hoping to go onto the southern portion of the island which was restricted when I was there last time (eagles nest there; it may also be where the heron rookery is.) I vaguely remembered something about that part being open in the winter, but unfortunately, access is only allowed from Oct 15-Dec 31, so I turned around. No eagle sightings today, sigh.
I did spot chickadees, titmouses (titmice?), and downy woodpeckers... also heard a nuthatch and I think cardinals, and I may have seen some juncos at the very end (they were zipping from one bush to another.) There were crows and gulls by the river; when I finished up, a group of crows went over heading upriver, followed by a group of gulls. Spotted two pileated woodpeckers very briefly, flying deeper into the woods. But the sight of the day was a large group (several dozen) of robins digging around in the leaves along and off the trail looking for food. The racket they made was incredible, as was their persistance... they would be tearing through a section of leaves, then fly up the trail 100 yds when I came along and start all over again. They repeated this several times until finally they got tired of me interrupting them and headed off further into the woods.
Schodack Island is one of the parks on the chopping block if the current NYS budget proposal goes through; hopefully a way will be found to keep it open and I can get back there this summer to perhaps see the herons on the Schodack Creek mud flats again...
JMH
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Headed to Schodack Island State Park just down the Hudson River before going home, hoping to get in some more snowshoeing... alas, all I found was mud and lots of ice, so I ended up running instead. It was cold and windy in the parking lot and down at the boat launch, but not so bad most of the time on the trails. Passed a decent number of folks walking dogs (a popular activity there, from what I've seen in the past) and one fellow with a birding scope on his shoulder (though how he expected to hear birds is beyond me, given that he had earphones on.)
Along the way I saw an old brick chimney that I missed the last time I was there, right on the banks of the Hudson... I suspect the remnant of one of the many ice houses that used to line the banks of the river. (See the map on page 3 of Daniel Calandro's Hudson River Valley Ice Houses and Ice Industry... there are ice houses marked on what it now the state park, between New Baltimore and Castleton on the map. Calandro notes that there were 13 ice house complexes on the islands that have since been combined to form the park.) Commerical ice cutting, storage, and shipping was a major industry in the upper Hudson Valley in the 1800's, with Hudson River ice shipped all over the world. The industry died out in the early 1900's with the advent of refrigeration/freezer technology and man-made ice. Calandro's paper is well worth a look for anyone interested in local history, as it not only discusses the ice houses and the industry as a whole but also describes in detail the techniques that were used to harvest, store, and transport the ice... the ingenuity of our forefathers was really quite impressive! The paper is part of the Hudson River Valley Institute library, which contains a lot of cool info about the history of the Hudson River Valley. Well worth checking out! The second time I passed the chimney I tried to bushwhack down to it to get better photos, but it was surrounded by brambles and after getting jabbed numerous times I gave up... running gear is not the clothing to brave a thicket of thorn bushes.
I'd been hoping to go onto the southern portion of the island which was restricted when I was there last time (eagles nest there; it may also be where the heron rookery is.) I vaguely remembered something about that part being open in the winter, but unfortunately, access is only allowed from Oct 15-Dec 31, so I turned around. No eagle sightings today, sigh.
I did spot chickadees, titmouses (titmice?), and downy woodpeckers... also heard a nuthatch and I think cardinals, and I may have seen some juncos at the very end (they were zipping from one bush to another.) There were crows and gulls by the river; when I finished up, a group of crows went over heading upriver, followed by a group of gulls. Spotted two pileated woodpeckers very briefly, flying deeper into the woods. But the sight of the day was a large group (several dozen) of robins digging around in the leaves along and off the trail looking for food. The racket they made was incredible, as was their persistance... they would be tearing through a section of leaves, then fly up the trail 100 yds when I came along and start all over again. They repeated this several times until finally they got tired of me interrupting them and headed off further into the woods.
Schodack Island is one of the parks on the chopping block if the current NYS budget proposal goes through; hopefully a way will be found to keep it open and I can get back there this summer to perhaps see the herons on the Schodack Creek mud flats again...
JMH
Season of the SnōShū 2010 - Race #12
Hallockville Orchard 3.8mi Snowshoe Race
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Today's race was a welcome break in two ways - the course was short and relatively easy, consisting of mostly packed snowmobile trails, and we actually had a building to hang out in before and after the race, an old CCC camp which is now the headquarters for the MA Student Conservation Association - Americorps. After mainly grey skies over Greylock yesterday, today we were greeted by blue skies and sunshine - another welcome break!
Surprisingly, after yesterday's trek I was feeling pretty good - I suspect the beautiful weather and the company of 80+ like-minded crazy people helped that a lot. Or maybe I was just glad today would go a lot quicker than yesterday... in any case, early on I decided to push this one fairly hard (for me, at least) since the course played to my strengths - rolling terrain with no long, steep hills, and well-packed snow.
The run out to the orchard was tough mainly because there's a lot of uphill along the way, but that meant I could look forward to running downhill on the way back. The loop around the orchard was tough because the snow was a bit deeper - not something I've really had much of a chance to get used to this winter! But once I was back on the snowmobile trail I cruised in, running as best I could and walking where I had to. I have to admit, it felt good to finish a snowshoe race in well under an hour (43 min 36 sec.)
It was a gorgeous day to be outside, between the bright blue skies and the sunshine sparkling off the snow. I especially enjoyed the contrast between all the white birch trees and the hemlocks, but I think my favorite section is the hemlock grove just before the lowest point on the course - shady downhill on the way out and shady uphill on the way back, a bit of a break going both ways!
JMH
2010 Event Totals
Run
Bike
Snowshoe 55.1 mi, 13 hr 48 min
states visited: MA, NY, VT
Hallockville Orchard 3.8mi Snowshoe Race
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Today's race was a welcome break in two ways - the course was short and relatively easy, consisting of mostly packed snowmobile trails, and we actually had a building to hang out in before and after the race, an old CCC camp which is now the headquarters for the MA Student Conservation Association - Americorps. After mainly grey skies over Greylock yesterday, today we were greeted by blue skies and sunshine - another welcome break!
Surprisingly, after yesterday's trek I was feeling pretty good - I suspect the beautiful weather and the company of 80+ like-minded crazy people helped that a lot. Or maybe I was just glad today would go a lot quicker than yesterday... in any case, early on I decided to push this one fairly hard (for me, at least) since the course played to my strengths - rolling terrain with no long, steep hills, and well-packed snow.
The run out to the orchard was tough mainly because there's a lot of uphill along the way, but that meant I could look forward to running downhill on the way back. The loop around the orchard was tough because the snow was a bit deeper - not something I've really had much of a chance to get used to this winter! But once I was back on the snowmobile trail I cruised in, running as best I could and walking where I had to. I have to admit, it felt good to finish a snowshoe race in well under an hour (43 min 36 sec.)
It was a gorgeous day to be outside, between the bright blue skies and the sunshine sparkling off the snow. I especially enjoyed the contrast between all the white birch trees and the hemlocks, but I think my favorite section is the hemlock grove just before the lowest point on the course - shady downhill on the way out and shady uphill on the way back, a bit of a break going both ways!
JMH
2010 Event Totals
Run
Bike
Snowshoe 55.1 mi, 13 hr 48 min
states visited: MA, NY, VT
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Season of the SnōShū 2010 - Race #11
Moby Dick 7.3mi Snowshoe Race
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Ordinarily we'd be running out of Greylock Glen this weekend, typically a double-header consisting of a short but at times steep Hoxie-Thunderbolt course and then a longer Covered Bridge loop (which last year brought the total distance to just under a half marathon.) This year we were displaced by the 75th anniversary Thunderbolt Ski Race, and the decision was made to revive an old tradition - the Moby Dick run out of the Greylock Visitors Center in Lanesboro. While the original Moby Dick's were run on the snow-covered road all the way to the top of the mountain (and in some cases, down the other side and then back up and down to the Visitors Center) we would be treated to a shorter course on some of the trails that parallel the road in the area.
Why Moby Dick? Apparently Herman Melville could see Greylock from his home in Pittsfield, MA, and the profile of the snow-covered mountain reminded him of the back of a white sperm whale breaking through the ocean's surface, inspiring him write what is probably his most famous novel.
I eagerly looked forward to this week's snowshoe race for several reasons. First, it was being held at a section of Greylock where I've only been once or twice before (the visitors center in Lanesboro), so I'd get to explore some new trails. Second, the longer distance meant it would be a challenge. And third, Ed assured us that there would be plenty of snow on the southern slopes of Greylock, a welcome change from the races over the last few weeks.
The trip to the Visitors Center took me over roads I've never been on before, so I was able to see some new sights during my drive through eastern NY's hills and valleys. Best of all, it turned out to be half an hour closer to Albany than Greylock Glen - I'm going to have to come back during the summer and check out the trails in warmer weather. The parking lot was filling up when I got there, but I had no trouble finding a place to park, after which I checked in and tried to figure out what to wear. In the end, I decided to err on the side of caution, given the length of the race and the fact that we'd be heading up the mountain for the first half of the run. I dropped off some homemade soup and salt potatoes for after the race, then waited for the fun to begin. Ed had a few words for us regarding the course, in particular warnings about a narrow bridge early on and a steep descent off the Rounds Rock trail, and then - off we went.
The first 3 miles or so climbed pretty consistently along the southeastern slope of the mountain. Nothing too steep for the most part, but still unlrelenting up. The snow was a welcome change - the trail was packed but we were clearly snowshoeing and my knees were grateful for the cushioning.
I think the thing that impressed me the most was how wooded the area was. From the mid 1700's to mid-1800's, Greylock was a farming area, as hard as that is to imagine, and much of the land we ran through was cleared. Many of the trail and place names come from those farming families - Northrup (trail), Rounds (Rock) and Jones (Nose) are three that are easily identifiable. While most of the spots we snowshoed today were wooded, there were many subtle clues to the past use - occasional stone walls, the general lack of any really large trees, and old orchards were a few. Asd we struggled up the mountain I wondered about how difficult it must have been for those long-ago farmers. We drove up in warm vehicles on a paved road; they would have been pretty much cut off from the valley during the winter and would have had to be self-sufficient, relying on their neighbors on the mountain for help if they needed it. We struggled to run/hike the climb up the Woodason Spring trail to snow-covered Rockwell Road, so we could cross over Rounds Rock and head back down toward the finish; this time of year they would have been struggling to survive the winter.
After a nifty climb up and over a rocky outcropping, we crossed the road and headed across Rounds Rock. After hearing about how Brad Herder got turned around up there a few days before while scouting out the route, I was glad we had well-defined tracks to follow. The clearing we ran through must be gorgeous in the summer, and it looked like there were short side-trails to overlooks, but I didn't think adding extra mileage to today's trek was a good idea.
The drop off of Rounds Rock was just as Ed described, and enough snow had been worn away that I didn't see any point in trying to walk down it, so I sat down and scooted down the trail on my backside. That would have been a lot of fun except for the fellow who did the same thing right behind me; I found having someone's pointy snowshoe cleats aimed at my head to be more than a bit distracting. Brad was at the bottom taking photos the entire time (and it turns out shooting video as well!) My knees made getting back to my feet a bit of a challenge, but I finally managed it and - hurrah - launched into a gently downward sloping trail where I could actually run! I even managed to catch up with Bill and Konrad, who had pulled ahead while I was sliding downhill on my backside.
I think I enjoyed that section of the Northrup trail the most - the snow was deep but not too deep, and it was mostly downhill but not particularly steep. We ran through some beautiful evergreen groves and even another old orchard, before finally coming out on Rockwell Road for the 1.5 mile run to the finish. The road was snow-covered but pretty well packed by snowmobiles, so I pushed and made decent time while simultaneously trying not to overextend and blow out a knee. Those were pretty sore by the time I reached the turnoff through the woods to the finish - I like packed trails because I can run them faster, but my knees really like the cushioning deeper snow provides. Finally crossed the finish in a little over 2 hr 13 min... slow going for a little over 7 miles, but not bad considering all the climbing in the first half.
As always, the views from Greylock were incredible, from the mountains and valleys to the south from the visitors center to the glimpses through the trees over toward Cheshire and Adams as we were climbing the Woodason Spring trail. I definitely want to visit this part of Greylock again in warmer weather! As always we owe Ed a huge thank you for all the work he put into our morning of fun in the snow - from marking the trails to keeping food warm for us to cleaning up after us and keeping the staff of the visitors center happy, plus who knows what else behind the scenes. Brad and Beth Herder also did their usual stellar job of both making us look good through photos and video and handling the long task of timing the finishers - almost 90 minutes elapsed between the first and last runners to cross the finish, but Beth greeted everyone with a smile and tons of encouragement. Thanks, guys - we couldn't do it without you!
JMH
2010 Event Totals
Run
Bike
Snowshoe 51.3 mi, 13 hr 5 min
states visited: MA, NY, VT
Moby Dick 7.3mi Snowshoe Race
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Ordinarily we'd be running out of Greylock Glen this weekend, typically a double-header consisting of a short but at times steep Hoxie-Thunderbolt course and then a longer Covered Bridge loop (which last year brought the total distance to just under a half marathon.) This year we were displaced by the 75th anniversary Thunderbolt Ski Race, and the decision was made to revive an old tradition - the Moby Dick run out of the Greylock Visitors Center in Lanesboro. While the original Moby Dick's were run on the snow-covered road all the way to the top of the mountain (and in some cases, down the other side and then back up and down to the Visitors Center) we would be treated to a shorter course on some of the trails that parallel the road in the area.
Why Moby Dick? Apparently Herman Melville could see Greylock from his home in Pittsfield, MA, and the profile of the snow-covered mountain reminded him of the back of a white sperm whale breaking through the ocean's surface, inspiring him write what is probably his most famous novel.
I eagerly looked forward to this week's snowshoe race for several reasons. First, it was being held at a section of Greylock where I've only been once or twice before (the visitors center in Lanesboro), so I'd get to explore some new trails. Second, the longer distance meant it would be a challenge. And third, Ed assured us that there would be plenty of snow on the southern slopes of Greylock, a welcome change from the races over the last few weeks.
The trip to the Visitors Center took me over roads I've never been on before, so I was able to see some new sights during my drive through eastern NY's hills and valleys. Best of all, it turned out to be half an hour closer to Albany than Greylock Glen - I'm going to have to come back during the summer and check out the trails in warmer weather. The parking lot was filling up when I got there, but I had no trouble finding a place to park, after which I checked in and tried to figure out what to wear. In the end, I decided to err on the side of caution, given the length of the race and the fact that we'd be heading up the mountain for the first half of the run. I dropped off some homemade soup and salt potatoes for after the race, then waited for the fun to begin. Ed had a few words for us regarding the course, in particular warnings about a narrow bridge early on and a steep descent off the Rounds Rock trail, and then - off we went.
The first 3 miles or so climbed pretty consistently along the southeastern slope of the mountain. Nothing too steep for the most part, but still unlrelenting up. The snow was a welcome change - the trail was packed but we were clearly snowshoeing and my knees were grateful for the cushioning.
I think the thing that impressed me the most was how wooded the area was. From the mid 1700's to mid-1800's, Greylock was a farming area, as hard as that is to imagine, and much of the land we ran through was cleared. Many of the trail and place names come from those farming families - Northrup (trail), Rounds (Rock) and Jones (Nose) are three that are easily identifiable. While most of the spots we snowshoed today were wooded, there were many subtle clues to the past use - occasional stone walls, the general lack of any really large trees, and old orchards were a few. Asd we struggled up the mountain I wondered about how difficult it must have been for those long-ago farmers. We drove up in warm vehicles on a paved road; they would have been pretty much cut off from the valley during the winter and would have had to be self-sufficient, relying on their neighbors on the mountain for help if they needed it. We struggled to run/hike the climb up the Woodason Spring trail to snow-covered Rockwell Road, so we could cross over Rounds Rock and head back down toward the finish; this time of year they would have been struggling to survive the winter.
After a nifty climb up and over a rocky outcropping, we crossed the road and headed across Rounds Rock. After hearing about how Brad Herder got turned around up there a few days before while scouting out the route, I was glad we had well-defined tracks to follow. The clearing we ran through must be gorgeous in the summer, and it looked like there were short side-trails to overlooks, but I didn't think adding extra mileage to today's trek was a good idea.
The drop off of Rounds Rock was just as Ed described, and enough snow had been worn away that I didn't see any point in trying to walk down it, so I sat down and scooted down the trail on my backside. That would have been a lot of fun except for the fellow who did the same thing right behind me; I found having someone's pointy snowshoe cleats aimed at my head to be more than a bit distracting. Brad was at the bottom taking photos the entire time (and it turns out shooting video as well!) My knees made getting back to my feet a bit of a challenge, but I finally managed it and - hurrah - launched into a gently downward sloping trail where I could actually run! I even managed to catch up with Bill and Konrad, who had pulled ahead while I was sliding downhill on my backside.
I think I enjoyed that section of the Northrup trail the most - the snow was deep but not too deep, and it was mostly downhill but not particularly steep. We ran through some beautiful evergreen groves and even another old orchard, before finally coming out on Rockwell Road for the 1.5 mile run to the finish. The road was snow-covered but pretty well packed by snowmobiles, so I pushed and made decent time while simultaneously trying not to overextend and blow out a knee. Those were pretty sore by the time I reached the turnoff through the woods to the finish - I like packed trails because I can run them faster, but my knees really like the cushioning deeper snow provides. Finally crossed the finish in a little over 2 hr 13 min... slow going for a little over 7 miles, but not bad considering all the climbing in the first half.
As always, the views from Greylock were incredible, from the mountains and valleys to the south from the visitors center to the glimpses through the trees over toward Cheshire and Adams as we were climbing the Woodason Spring trail. I definitely want to visit this part of Greylock again in warmer weather! As always we owe Ed a huge thank you for all the work he put into our morning of fun in the snow - from marking the trails to keeping food warm for us to cleaning up after us and keeping the staff of the visitors center happy, plus who knows what else behind the scenes. Brad and Beth Herder also did their usual stellar job of both making us look good through photos and video and handling the long task of timing the finishers - almost 90 minutes elapsed between the first and last runners to cross the finish, but Beth greeted everyone with a smile and tons of encouragement. Thanks, guys - we couldn't do it without you!
JMH
2010 Event Totals
Run
Bike
Snowshoe 51.3 mi, 13 hr 5 min
states visited: MA, NY, VT
Monday, February 15, 2010
3.7 Mile Hike at John Boyd Thacher State Park
Monday, February 15, 2010
I spent a good deal of time waffling about where to go today... I had planned to head to the Berkshires for some snowshoeing but in the end my legs were tired and sore enough that I decided it wasn't worth 2+ hours of driving there and back. Since I haven't been up to Thacher in a while, I finally decided to head there for some walking, which turned out to be a good choice.
I got off to a late start and didn't want to risk getting locked in, so I parked up on Beaver Dam Road and walked down the old Paint Mine road to the picnice areas on the escarpment. The first surprise was the amount of snow on the trails - I could have easily been snowshoeing, though it was packed enough that I didn't need to snowshoes. The sun put in an appearance so I had a really pleasant walk down the hill with blue skies overhead and birds calling in the trees... mostly I suspect brown creepers (I managed to get some photos of one) though I also heard chickadees and nuthatches in the mix.
The fields along the top of the escarpment were very icy... I had to be pretty careful even with my screwshoes. I started out heading east, past the fenced-off descent to the lower Indian Ladder trail, and ended up at surprise #2 - a fantastic view of Mine Lot Falls, encased in ice. I had seen a few photos previously, and years ago Ann and I visited there in April and saw the remains of the huge mass of ice at the base of the falls - but this is the first time I've seen the "ice falls" in person, and they are pretty spectacular.
After that I headed west along the escarpment, to just past the other entrance to the lower trail. Along the way I had a pretty good view of the area below the cliffs, and noticed the snow clearly marking the route of the old Indian Ladder Road that ran to the top of the escarpment (the cut that is currently used as the western trailhead to the lower path was the final bit of that road.) The old road was built in 1828 and last used sometime in the early 1900's. I know there have been plans to add a trail along its route to the Tory Cave (a cave where, in 1777, British Loyalist and spy Jacob Salisbury hid from the locals after leading raids against farms in the valley; searchers apparently saw smoke from the cave and discovered him hiding there, after which he was hanged) but with the state budget in the condition it's in and further cuts anticipated to the already meager parks budget, I don't expect to see that happen anytime soon.
I briefly considered walking the trail along the escarpment around the Horseshoe Loop, but decided that it was going to be sufficiently difficult going that it probably wasn't worth it today, especially since it was getting late and I had over a mile of walking to get back to the car. So instead I headed back across the fields and through the stand of huge evergreens to cross the road and head back up Paint Mine Road. While the walk back up the hill wasn't nearly as effortless as the walk down, the gorgeous surroundings provided ample distraction... and I've walked and run up that hill enough times now that it really doesn't seem all that far. Along the way I spotted a downy woodpecker and heard a barred owl calling off somewhere in the woods. Best of all, there was still plenty of light to see by when I got back to the car... as I've said before, I love the longer hours of daylight, even if they signal the approaching end of snowshoe season (only a month left... it seems like the season just started!)
I'm glad I went up there today... sometimes I forget how much I love Thacher Park. Between memories of all the races I've run there (including my first ever trail race, way back in 1998), all the fantastic scenic spots that make up the park, and the fact that it's one of the few places that's local (within a half hour's drive) where I can go and enjoy some respite from all the sounds of so-called civilization (everywhere else, there's always traffic, train, or airplane noise... not at Thacher, unless you're near one of the roads - though the picnic areas can get noisy on summer weekends) while enjoying some beautiful natural surroundings - it's just a wonderful place to be.
JMH
Monday, February 15, 2010
I spent a good deal of time waffling about where to go today... I had planned to head to the Berkshires for some snowshoeing but in the end my legs were tired and sore enough that I decided it wasn't worth 2+ hours of driving there and back. Since I haven't been up to Thacher in a while, I finally decided to head there for some walking, which turned out to be a good choice.
I got off to a late start and didn't want to risk getting locked in, so I parked up on Beaver Dam Road and walked down the old Paint Mine road to the picnice areas on the escarpment. The first surprise was the amount of snow on the trails - I could have easily been snowshoeing, though it was packed enough that I didn't need to snowshoes. The sun put in an appearance so I had a really pleasant walk down the hill with blue skies overhead and birds calling in the trees... mostly I suspect brown creepers (I managed to get some photos of one) though I also heard chickadees and nuthatches in the mix.
The fields along the top of the escarpment were very icy... I had to be pretty careful even with my screwshoes. I started out heading east, past the fenced-off descent to the lower Indian Ladder trail, and ended up at surprise #2 - a fantastic view of Mine Lot Falls, encased in ice. I had seen a few photos previously, and years ago Ann and I visited there in April and saw the remains of the huge mass of ice at the base of the falls - but this is the first time I've seen the "ice falls" in person, and they are pretty spectacular.
After that I headed west along the escarpment, to just past the other entrance to the lower trail. Along the way I had a pretty good view of the area below the cliffs, and noticed the snow clearly marking the route of the old Indian Ladder Road that ran to the top of the escarpment (the cut that is currently used as the western trailhead to the lower path was the final bit of that road.) The old road was built in 1828 and last used sometime in the early 1900's. I know there have been plans to add a trail along its route to the Tory Cave (a cave where, in 1777, British Loyalist and spy Jacob Salisbury hid from the locals after leading raids against farms in the valley; searchers apparently saw smoke from the cave and discovered him hiding there, after which he was hanged) but with the state budget in the condition it's in and further cuts anticipated to the already meager parks budget, I don't expect to see that happen anytime soon.
I briefly considered walking the trail along the escarpment around the Horseshoe Loop, but decided that it was going to be sufficiently difficult going that it probably wasn't worth it today, especially since it was getting late and I had over a mile of walking to get back to the car. So instead I headed back across the fields and through the stand of huge evergreens to cross the road and head back up Paint Mine Road. While the walk back up the hill wasn't nearly as effortless as the walk down, the gorgeous surroundings provided ample distraction... and I've walked and run up that hill enough times now that it really doesn't seem all that far. Along the way I spotted a downy woodpecker and heard a barred owl calling off somewhere in the woods. Best of all, there was still plenty of light to see by when I got back to the car... as I've said before, I love the longer hours of daylight, even if they signal the approaching end of snowshoe season (only a month left... it seems like the season just started!)
I'm glad I went up there today... sometimes I forget how much I love Thacher Park. Between memories of all the races I've run there (including my first ever trail race, way back in 1998), all the fantastic scenic spots that make up the park, and the fact that it's one of the few places that's local (within a half hour's drive) where I can go and enjoy some respite from all the sounds of so-called civilization (everywhere else, there's always traffic, train, or airplane noise... not at Thacher, unless you're near one of the roads - though the picnic areas can get noisy on summer weekends) while enjoying some beautiful natural surroundings - it's just a wonderful place to be.
JMH
Saturday, February 13, 2010
4 Mile Run Along the Bog Meadow Brook Nature Trail
Saturday, February 13, 2010
I checked my trail guides for places to go after the race today and briefly considered heading over to the Saratoga Spa State Park, possibly to run some variation of the Winterfest course I missed last week. In the end I decided that relatively flat terrain was called for instead, and the best option seemed to be a spot I XC skiied at last year after the Saratoga Winterfest race, the Bog Meadow Brook Nature Trail. The path follows the bed of the Saratoga & Schuylerville Railroad that ran between Saratoga Springs and Schulerville (probably no great surprise, given the name!) The rail line was built in the late 1880's and was part of a plan to create a line from Boston to Buffalo. In 1956 the line was closed down and almost 40 years later in 1993 this 2 mile section was converted into a nature trail, as one of the earliest accomplishments of the Open Space Project (now Saratoga PLAN.) The trail runs through a variety of wetlands and when I was there last year I hoped I would get back there again (though at the time I was thinking more of seeing it in another season rather than going there again after a snowshoe race!)
It was very slow going to the far end of the trail and back... my legs were pretty tired from my run last night and especially from the race this morning, and I had no wish to overdo it and end up limping arounf for the next few weeks. Besides, I had the excuse of stopping to take pictures. Much of the trail was covered by a packed layer of snow - I probably could have used my snowshoes if I wanted, but I went with screw shoes instead. Passed a few other folks out walking, but it was a grey chilly day... not much incentive for most folks to be outdoors.
Since the snow cover was lighter than last year I could see many of the railroad ties that still cross the path - I would imagine those could make the going a bit rougher in spring, summer, and fall. I spotted two woodpeckers and heard chickadees and another woodpecker; there were also plenty of signs of beavers, both at Bog Meadow Brook (where there were two beaver dams) and along the boardwalk over a beaver pond at the far end of the path, where there were both chewed stumps and a very obvious lodge.
The run out wasn't too bad, but the trip back got tougher and tougher the further I went... good thing it was only 2 miles. It's a bit depressing to think that right now 9 miles is a tough day for me, but with steady work and no injuries that should improve...
JMH
Saturday, February 13, 2010
I checked my trail guides for places to go after the race today and briefly considered heading over to the Saratoga Spa State Park, possibly to run some variation of the Winterfest course I missed last week. In the end I decided that relatively flat terrain was called for instead, and the best option seemed to be a spot I XC skiied at last year after the Saratoga Winterfest race, the Bog Meadow Brook Nature Trail. The path follows the bed of the Saratoga & Schuylerville Railroad that ran between Saratoga Springs and Schulerville (probably no great surprise, given the name!) The rail line was built in the late 1880's and was part of a plan to create a line from Boston to Buffalo. In 1956 the line was closed down and almost 40 years later in 1993 this 2 mile section was converted into a nature trail, as one of the earliest accomplishments of the Open Space Project (now Saratoga PLAN.) The trail runs through a variety of wetlands and when I was there last year I hoped I would get back there again (though at the time I was thinking more of seeing it in another season rather than going there again after a snowshoe race!)
It was very slow going to the far end of the trail and back... my legs were pretty tired from my run last night and especially from the race this morning, and I had no wish to overdo it and end up limping arounf for the next few weeks. Besides, I had the excuse of stopping to take pictures. Much of the trail was covered by a packed layer of snow - I probably could have used my snowshoes if I wanted, but I went with screw shoes instead. Passed a few other folks out walking, but it was a grey chilly day... not much incentive for most folks to be outdoors.
Since the snow cover was lighter than last year I could see many of the railroad ties that still cross the path - I would imagine those could make the going a bit rougher in spring, summer, and fall. I spotted two woodpeckers and heard chickadees and another woodpecker; there were also plenty of signs of beavers, both at Bog Meadow Brook (where there were two beaver dams) and along the boardwalk over a beaver pond at the far end of the path, where there were both chewed stumps and a very obvious lodge.
The run out wasn't too bad, but the trip back got tougher and tougher the further I went... good thing it was only 2 miles. It's a bit depressing to think that right now 9 miles is a tough day for me, but with steady work and no injuries that should improve...
JMH
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