Monday, October 18, 2004

BERLIN MTN TACONIC MTNS (THE "SCOUTING WITH DAD" HIKE)

The plan was to hike the Taconic Crest Trail from Petersburg Pass to Berlin Mtn to see if it was suitable for mountain biking. My father and I arrived at Petersburg Pass on a cool and cloudy fall day.


Petersburg Pass Trailhead


Petersburg Pass View


View Northwest from Petersburg Pass

The leaves covered the trail as we headed towards Berlin Mtn. The trail was wide and showed some signs of illegal ATV/4X4 use. We passed through Berlin Gap and up to the flat summit. There was the footings for the old fire tower which was taken down. The view of Mt Greylock the Massachusettes high point was ver nice to the East. The rolling hills and farmland of New York's Hudson Valley to the West.


Leaves on the trail


Trail Marker


Nice Fall Forest


Berlin Mountain Summit


Mt Greylock from Berlin Summit



We hiked back to Petersburg Pass and concluded that the terrain was too steep and loose to make it a good mountain bike trip. It did however turn out to be a rather nice place to hike for the day with my dad.



Thursday, September 30, 2004

HADLEY MTN ADK FIRE TOWER (The "Beginning" Hike)

My wife's uncle Nick, his young son Louie and I went on a hike up my first ADK firetower on Hadley Mtn. This was my real introductory hike in the Adirondacks, and even though it was chilly and overcast I enjoyed it a lot. We left the trailhead and climbed to the mostly open summit. There was the firetower, and although the cab wasn't open we went up as high as possible on the stairs. There were nice distant views of Sacandaga Lake as well as the High Peaks.


 Hadley Mountain Trailhead


 Hadley Mountain Summit


Hadley Mountain Firetower


View from Firetower


View from Summit




Just below the firetower is the old observers cabin. Nearby was what seemed like it was a root cellar.


Fire Observers Cabin


Nick & Louie in the Root Cellar

We descended the mountain and this hike really got me interested in hiking for sure. Nick asked me if I wanted to go to the High Peaks and I said sure!