Dec 26 - G LAKE skiing.  2-3" powder over 1-2" icy base - good skiing on the 2.1 mile unplowed dirt road, fair skiing on trails.  G Lake Rd drops 100' in the first mile then climbs 200' in the next mile.  From the summer parking area it is 0.4 miles N along an old woods road to a campsite at the E end of the lake - major windchill with a W wind.  Explored the old road S of the lake - had some minor blowdown.  Sidetrips on Alder Brook snowmobile trail & to Big Marsh.  3.3 hours.  Adirondack lakes mostly iced over (Canada Lake had the most open water). 

Dec 25 - No snow at APnP, ~2" in the Adirondacks & Green Mtns; Mohawk & Hudson Rivers are open with just a little ice in protected bays (last year everything was iced over).

Dec 18 - COUNTY LINE LAKE hike from Pinnacle Rd in Bleecker.  Shaker Mtn WF.  Felt like winter with temp just getting into the 20s; looked almost like winter with dusting to 1.5" of snow; cloudless blue sky.  Newly marked blue trail.  Beautiful hemlock woods alongside the cascading waters of rocky Pinnacle Creek.  A wide old forest road past vly with nice view across to Pigeon Mt.  Narrow & steep at times trail from the col around the N side of Pigeon Mtn going up over the 2,500' mark - don't think I'll ever be skiing this section.  A nice high elevation wilderness lake.  Grouse.  7+ miles, 1,000' elevation gain, 4.6 hours.   

Dec 12 - CANNADY HILL.  Long Path & Snowmobile Corridor 7B from Cannady Hill Rd - no parking area, had to just park roadside.  2"-5" of snow.  This was going to be a short hike close to home but when I saw the snow I was glad I still had the skis in the car.  View of Blackhead Range in the Catskills & Partridge Run after an easy half mile climb.  Down the other side it was easier taking the snowmobile trail, the LP is extremely steep until the 2 trails rejoin.  2.2 hours. 

Swix V series kick waxes, scrapers, cork, etc for waxable skis.   Maxiglide for non-wax skis.

Dec 11 - BOULDER ROCK loopfrom North/South Lake in the Catskills.  0-6" of snow - poor to good skiing - best on the unplowed road S of South Lake.  No clouds, no wind.  From parking area next to South Lake took old railroad grade to Schutt Rd Trail, then red & blue (Long Path) trails.  Views up & down the Hudson Valley & the Taconics beyond.  Carried the skis down the steep rocky trail from Boulder Rock to the Catskill Mountain House site (more views).  3.5 hours. 

Dec 9 - PETERSBURGH PASS, Rt.2 on the NY/MA border.  Wonderful views E (Mt. Greylock) & W across the Rensselaer Plateau.  Poked around on skis for half an hour S of Rt.2, partly on Taconic Crest Trail, partly on old ski trails on Mt. Raimer.  Avg. 6" of snow.  Stopped at Grafton Lakes SP - 5-6". 

Dec 5 - MOHAWK RIVER from Lions/RR Station Park, Rosendale Rd, Niskayuna.  Muddy put-in.  Barely enough depth to get out into the main river by hugging the W end of the middle island.  Downstream.  Old Erie Canal, Clute's Dry Dock & further W until a causeway in the Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve blocks the way.  Back on the riuver along the undeveloped N shore, short stop at a picnic area in the preserve.  3 hours.  Could be the last paddle of the year...  Perception Expression, a new touring kayak. 

Dec 4 - HUNTERSFIELD MOUNTAIN hike.  A Catskill peak but not in the Catskill Park, summit el. 3,423'.  Finding the trailhead was a minor challenge - might be best to take CR10 out of Prattsville, take a L on CR11 & keep going until road turns to dirt (Huntersland & Macomber Rd?), drive a bit further until you see sign for Huntersfield State Forest on the R & aqua Long Path paint blazes on the L.  There is a good lookout to the W incl. Schoharie Reservoir & Utsayantha Mt over half way up.  Almost at the wooded summit turned R on yellow loop trail steeply down to log bench with lookout then on & up to lean-to near the summit with view to Hunter & Slide Mtns.  Dusting of snow in shady areas up high.  ~5 miles, 4 hours, 1,200' el. gain.  Best description is in The Long Path Guide.  Best map for trail & roads:  NYNJTC Catskill Trails mapset 9th Edition 2010.   Drove thru post-Irene Prattsville - does not look good. 

Dec 1 - MOHAWK RIVER STATE PARK walk; from Lock 7 boat launch in Niskayuna go a short distance W on the bike path & take L on trail next to a shelter.  New trail markers.

Swift Keewaydin 16 canoe video with Charlie Wilson: watch video.

Nov 28 - BALSAM LAKE MOUNTAIN hike from Mill Brook Rd trailhead, at 2,580' the highest trailhead in the Catskills.  2.25 miles on 4WD road (skiable) then 0.75 miles on red trail with some steep sections.  Primarily hardwoods with thru the trees views along the way until near the summit where red spruce & balsam fir take over.  At 3,723' the 16th highest peak in the Catskills.  No view without climbing the firetower - cold & windy going up - very good views despite clouds today.  6 miles, 3.7 hours.   

Nov 27 - KELLY HOLLOW hike from Mill Brook Rd, S of Margaretville.  Balsam Lake Wild Forest, Catskills.  Figure 8 loops on old woods roads with yellow xc ski markers.  Lovely cascades, waterfalls, lean-to, beaver pond (beavers have recently cut down many trees at pond's edge).  4+ miles, 2.6 hours, 450' elevation change.  Camped at primitive campsites in red pines at W trailhead w/outhouse - tall pines swayed hypnotically in the wind.   

Nov 24 Thanksgiving - BOTHERATION BROOK skiing from Old Farm trailhead E of 13th Lake.  Very good skiing (even by mid-winter standards) on 10"-12" dense powder snow - I left the "rock skis" in the car & used my better skis - temp in the 30s.  Over 1 mile on Old Farm Rd is very gentle then L on trail to Botheration Pond & skiing becomes intermediate.  Bare-booters went all the way to the 1st bridge but I tried to ski breaking trail to the side wherever possible.  After the 1st bridge the newish trail climbs (nice ride on way back) to the 2nd bridge.  Skiing should be good here for another day or 2.  Very quiet & peaceful.  Commercial maps do not have the new Botheration Pond, Hour Pond & Raymond Brook trails in this area on them - if you would like a good map with these trails we can email it to you.  3.5 hours.  13th Lake is still unfrozen, Garnet Hill xc ski area not open.  Had stopped at Pack Forest in Warrensburg where there was 8"-10" but had some crunchy ice on top - might be good skiing when temp gets well above freezing.     

Nov 21 - NORTH SOUTH LAKES & ARTIST'S ROCK hike in the Catskills.  Foot problem has been keeping me from hiking but feeling better lately.  Temp in low 40s.  Rough trail (yellow) on S side of lakes with views of North & Hunter Mtns.  Blue Escarpment Trail past a rocky scramble around a rock overhang.  Over smooth rock trail thru stunted pines with Hudson River Valley views to Artist's Rock, a ledge with views N to Albany skyline & S to Kingston & beyond.  Bushwhacked down steeply to campground & back on N side of lakes.  Quite a few other folks out recreating on a Monday.  New Nat. Geo. Trails Illustrated Catskill Park map now available in the store.     

Nov 20 - HUDSON RIVER from boat launch (off Tow Path Rd) just N of Fort Hardy Park in Schuylerville.  Temp nudging over 60F.  Some strong currents going up to Lock 5 & dam - wonder what the bridge abutments in the rapids below the dam were all about.  Downstream a bit & up the Batten Kill to dam & mill.  Downstream on the Hudson past islands & airfield.  Poked in to Fish Creek before heading back to the put-in.  Bald eagle, ducks, C geese.  4 hours. 

Nov 13 - HOOSIC RIVER Johnsonville to Buskirk Covered Bridge & back.  Temp close to 60F.  Very little development outside of Johnsonville & Buskirk.  Clear green water.  About a mile upstream is an island, S side is very shallow, N side has deep water.  Duck hunter, blind, decoys at E end of island - heard a few gunshots.  Huge quantities of avian wildlife: bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, ducks, gulls, gb herons, kingfisher...  Covered bridge shows some damage on upstream side due to flood waters.  Saw 2 other kayakers without life jackets on - NYS law requires that paddlers wear life jackets from Nov 1 thru May 1.  4 hours. 

Nov 7 - 13TH LAKE.  Easy 150 yard carry to the water.  Mostly undeveloped state land.  Gas motors not allowed.  White trunks of birch up the hillsides.  Paddled S down the W shore.  Spur trail to new Hour Pond trail is well-marked with red markers.  Went over a large beaver dam on the inlet but not able to go much further due to ice up to an inch thick!  Stopped for relaxing break on Elizabeth Point (new outhouse) then paddled back up the E shore.  Several beaver lodges on the lake, chipmunk, loon calls.  Built small fire & hung out til well after sunset.   

Nov 3-6 - NJ PINE BARRENS canoeing.  Wharton SF.  Hired Bel Haven Paddlesports to shuttle us to the put-ins on the Wading & Mullica ($20-$26).  Lowland (under 2' above rivers) Atlantis white cedar/red maple, upland pitch pine/oaks/huckleberry.  Rivers mostly undeveloped.  Military planes make for some noisy periods.

Nov 5&6 - MULLICA RIVER overnight from Atsion to Crowley Landing.  6.8 miles in 3 hours (incl. half hour lunch) to Mullica Camp ($2pp primitive backcountry camping with water & outhouses); narrow at first with alders, some sandy banks then widens pond-like before reaching Old Mullica Camp at 2.6 miles, sweetgum leaves deep red.  Then there are a few beaver dams & obstructions before passing thru a maple swamp.  Shared camping area with about 20 others, mostly backpackers, moderate privacy.  River continues to be a bit wider but fairly wild until Pleasant Mills, after that there are houses on river R, the river is tidal & widens.   "Saxman & friends" seen in someone's backyard.  Take-out at a turnout (we thought it would be safer to leave the car here overnight) just W of Crowley Landing boat launch.  ~8 miles (Enjnir's GPS batteries died).  Rte. 542 is closed at the bridge over the Mullica W of Batsto so the shuttle is a bit longer than usual until they fix the road - the outfitter said it could be a couple of years. Had time to drive back to Great Bay Blvd WMA (pdf map)to see what everything looked like in daylight - very marshy with some sandy beach.  The Mullica empties out into Great Bay before reaching the Atlantic.       

Nov 4 - WADING RIVER from Hawkins Bridge to Beaver Branch.  Barrens river with the strongest current, least obstructions & less sharp turns.  Varied shores but mostly cedar, some maples added color.  Passed Godfrey Bridge Campground (semi-primitive, $20), a private campground, Evans Bridge, Bodine Field (primitive car camping $2pp).  Dirt road to Beaver Branch a bit rough.  Lots of cranberries.  Hawk, turkey vulture, squirrels.  ~10 miles.  Drove out of Tuckerton on Great Bay Blvd at night a few miles thru WMA to end of peninsula near outlet to ocean - could see lights of Atlantic City.  

Nov 3 - HARRISVILLE LAKE & OSWEGO RIVER.  Check in to Bass River SF campground for 2 nights then short drive to HL.  HL shores of pine, OR shores cedar, some sandy banks.  At Martha Pond there are several channels around islands - I would not call it a pond.  Moderate current, lots easier coming back.  Some cranberries at water's edge.  Turtles, deer.  8+ miles.. 

Nov 1 - HUDSON RIVER from 123rd St boat launch in Lansingburgh.  Upriver to Campbell Island, crescent moon on way back, noticeable current. 

Oct 31 - GRAFTON LAKES SP poling'n'paddling from parking lot at end of Long Pond Rd.  Up to 1 foot of snow.  Lots of exposed rocks where snowmobiles, skiers, barebooters went yesterday, slow going skiing in untracked snow.  Switched skis/poles for canoe/paddles & paddled the Prospector around the perimeter of Long Pond.  Nice & peaceful.  Still some autumnal foliage color thanks to oaks, beech & red-leaved shrubs (laurel?) along shoreline.   

Oct 30 - PARTRIDGE RUN WMA xc skiing.  Got report that S Berne got 9" last night.  Up to 10", dry powder over heavy wet snow, some wet thin spots, temp rising thru the 30s.  Started out at the old cemetary on Bradt Hollow Rd & picked up the xc ski trail going E to Beaver Rd, L to Becker Pond.  Mostly uphill on way back, sticky snow, much better after I re-Maxiglided ski bases.  2+ hours.  Peru in western MA reported 32"; Savoy MA (somewhere I've actually skied) 24". 

Oct 25 - MOHAWK RIVER from Lions/RR Station Park, Rosendale Rd in Niskayuna.  Despite low water conditions we were able to reach the main river by hugging the tip of Niska Isle.  Went up to the Lock 7 dam - some strong currents here especially closer to the N side - 2 mature bald eagles on a tree just below the dam.

Oct 24 - HUDSON RIVER VALLEY RnR (reading & relaxation) & walks.  Fourmile Point Preserve - view across river to Stockport Middle Ground, eastern redcedar trees (juniper) had small blue berry-like cones.  Vosburgh Swamp - from Fourmile Point Rd - walked a trail a short distance, short bushwhack to get a good view of wetland.  Greenport Conservation Area - smooth wide trails, nice views (esp from a fancy rustic bench) of the river  & Catskills along the way.  Harrier Hill - pavillion, benches, silo, view across field to river & Catskills; work on trail connecting to Greenport Cons. Area starts in Nov.  Stockport Station, Columbiaville - large parking area next to rr tracks, new gazebo & picnic tables, place to launch canoe/kayak into Stockport Creek.    

Oct 23 - HUDSON RIVER from state boat launch on Rt. 385 north of Athens.  Morning clouds gave way to afternoon sun, high of 60F, light wind.  Launched 3.6 hours before high tide into Murderer's Kill which soon enters the Hudson & Middle Ground Flats, a long island, is seen to the E.  Headed upstream along the W shore then into West Flats marsh, where there are many channels to explore (easier close to high tide), Vosburgh Swamp is a continuation of the marsh to the N.  Back out to the river at Hudson Anchorage & Harrier Hill can be seen to the E with its silo & pavillion.  Continued N & around cliffy Fourmile Point & then Four Mile Point Preserve where there are picnic tables.  Stopped at the Coxsackie boat launch where there are picnic tables & portapotties.  Continued W of Coxsackie & Rattlesnake Islands - a brant flew in low & landed amongst us.   High tide.  Crossed to E side of the river where you can find some small inlets & bays to explore plus small cliffs & sandy bluffs.  Pass the brick chimney of an historic ice house at Nutten Hook.  Pass beaches & campsites to Gay's Point part of Hudson Islands SP.  Paddled E of Stockport Middle Ground (an island), Stopped at Stockport Station - new picnic tables & gazebo here next to rr tracks.  As we paddled S on E shore there were nice views of Catskill mountains.  Crossed over (best to minimize time paddling in the shipping channel by shooting across at a right angle to the channel) & came back down the W side of Middle Ground Flats.  Stopped to visit the Halfmoon, moored just S of the mouth of the Murderer's.  4 bald eagles (look for nests on islands).  Some barges & ships, not much pleasure boat traffic.  Some fall color mainly on dry upland (oaks, sumac); most cottonwoods, swamp maples have dropped their leaves.   Thing I like about this trip is little development & a lot of state land.  17.7 miles, 6.5 hours.  Duck hunting season resumes Nov. 5.   

Oct 18 - HUDSON RIVER from Henry Hudson Park in Bethlehem.  Nice & calm.  Headed downriver on E side & back with the incoming tide on the W side after dark.  A mature bald eagle flew overhead.  2 hours.  Dagger Alchemy, a 14' kayak.

Oct 17 - COLGATE LAKE WILD FOREST walk.  Catskills near East Jewett.  View of Blackhead Range & other mountains from field at start.  Trail to Dutcher Notch.  Found an old boiler.  More info. 

Oct 16 - HELL HOLLOW BROOK hike.  Green Mountain NF.  Appalachian/Long Trails.  Glastenbury Wilderness.  Got to the brook & skies turned from sunny to grey - was intending to continue to Porcupine Lookout but decided to head back.  3 hours.  Fall foliage near peak in Bennington but at over 1,500' elevation well past peak; in Woodford (2,300' el) most trees are leafless. 

Oct 10-13 - BOG RIVER & LOWS LAKE.  Monday Columbus Day.  Most folks leaving, easy carry around Lows Upper Dam then <1 mile upriver the bog has closed off the old opening on N side & now one must portage/drag 20' on S side.  Pretty much had my pick of campsites (all had outhouse or box privy) - took #20 in hardwoods where a maple was trying its best to hold on to its red leaves.  Evening brought sounds of loons, ducks, owls, migrating geese + full moon.  Tuesday.  Gorgeous red sunrise.  Grass Pond Mtn hike to open rocky ridge with superlative view - swear I saw a blackfly, other tiny flies.  Campsite #24 is open again - I guess eagles have not returned to the nest above it.  Very little wind, temp in 70s.  Paddled into Grass  & Tomar Ponds.  Grass has cliffs, Tomar has boggy shores; yellow-leaved tamaracks contrasted with deep green of spruce.  Stopped at Virgin Tinber Landing.  Around the bog in middle of the lake & did the short carry between the 2 northern bays.  Wednesday. Broke camp heading downriver past Lows Ridge & Hitchins Pond to site #2 (sites 2 & 3 do not have privies) stopping to take a look at most campsites along the way.  Watched 3 military planes "in combat" above, noisy for a while.  Tried catching up on my reading.  Rain at night.  Thursday.  Rain early, kept a fire going, some sun by noon, short paddle out.  Only 4 cars left in parking area, 3 from VT, one person had signed in for 11 days, took quick nippy cleanup dip in the river.  Set up camp on primitive car camping site (#7 with picnic table & good view, close to outhouse at #8) on Horseshoe Lake.  More reading; dinner of pierogies, sausages, carrots fried in butter - quite a change from freeze-dried dinners.  A loon call or 2 otherwise very quiet.  Still some very good foliage color.  Biting flies on the water, but mosquitoes not an issue.  Used the new Paddlers & Hikers Map Lows Lake & Bog River - very good except for some errors: Virgin Timber Landing is shown on the wrong point, states campsite #11 is only a picnic site whereas #11 is actually a campsite a little bit E of the picnic site, campsite #24 is missing, Hitchins spelled ok on map but spelled Hitchens in the write-up, campsites on Horseshoe have since been renumbered #1 thru #8. 

Oct 8 & 9 - WEST BRANCH SACANDAGA RIVER GORGE from Rt. 10.  Saturday.  Doubled the 1 mile carry on unmarked trail in 1.3 hours (longer on way out) - tried singling but it was difficult following the path which was somewhat obscured with newly-fallen leaves.  A little before Piseco Outlet red tape markers guide one around some blowdown.  Put in below rapids.  Flat/quick water for a short distance then most of the current goes L of an island.  At this water level I would hit too many rocks with a full load in the canoe (did run it last time here with light day-tripping load, hit rocks).  Put in below rapids & not long to the W Br which here is ~100' wide.  Downstream for ~1 mile to top of rapids.  Bushwhack backpack for half an hour & decide to quit that nonsense.  Made camp - no campsites, found semi-flat spot for tent then bushwhacked (brutal at times) further downstream on N side of river for over an hour.  Passed one falls with two 5' drops but hit my turn-around time before reaching the next falls.  Sunday, paddled upstream past Piseco Outlet - a very pretty section until I hit rapids.  Back to PO & carried out.  Sore (blister & hotspot on my feet, gimpy knee) & tired.  Camped Sunday night at Lake Durant State Campground - nice view of Blue Mtn, too much road noise.   

Oct 4 - HUDSON RIVER from Corning Preserve boat launch in Albany.  Some interesting boats in the Port of Albany. 

Oct 3 - CEDAR RIVER FLOW.  Good fall foliage but could be past peak at higher elevations.  Floatplane landings.  No bad bugs. 

Oct 2 - PARTRIDGE RUN walk on xc ski trails.  Fall foliage 10-20% change.   

Sep 27 - MOHAWK RIVER from Lock 7 in Niskayuna.  Water level very low, very little current.  Some mud at shoreline.  Some trees stuck in shallows & some floating debris.  A mature bald eagle flew over the boat launch as we were getting ready; an immature bald eagle spotted upstream.  Green & gb herons, C geese, egrets, gulls.  2+ hours. 

Sep 26 - FALL STREAM.  Had to get out for a shallow rocky spot, beaver dams exist but all were small or breached & no need to get out of the canoe.  Varied shoreline from grass to trees, 2 tall pines stand up way above everything else.  Mallards; loon on Vly Lake as we lunched at a campsite.  More biting flies today, another unusually warm sunny day.  Tandem paddled the Reflection 15.  5.5 hours. 

Now in stock: new Paddlers & Hikers Map LOWS LAKE & BOG RIVER - water resistant, accurate shoreline features, campsite details, descriptions of 10 hikes.