Uncategorized – Page 2

Watch Hill Trail

To celebrate the Indian summer we had this October, we decided to hike a trail in Indian Lake. We were lucky and caught the last weekend that the leaves were in the peak of their change.

This trail offers a few different options, such as Watch Hill Foot Trail, X-Ski Trail and an alternate trail head for Snowy Mountain. We chose the Watch Hill Foot Trail for this adventure.

The trail was covered with a ton of leaves, and thankfully we brought our Milly girl with us to help lead the way.

The trail is a 3.5 mile loop out and back. The climb was relatively easy, with a few spots of elevation. After the first mile the trail opens up to the first overlook, and I must say, the colors did not disappoint!

After enjoying a quick lunch at the first overlook, we headed down the rest of the trail to get to the summit. The summit was filled with people and many dogs, so we did not get to spend too much time enjoying the view, but I did manage get a quick look and photo.

After reaching the summit we had the option to turn around and head back down the mountain to the trail head, or take another route that leads down to Indian Lake. Since the sun was out, and we had some time, we decided to head down to the lake. The trail was very steep and a little slippery due to the leaves, but it was well worth the struggles to get to the lake. Milly got to enjoy a little dip in the lake and hydrate for our climb back up the mountain.

The hike back up the mountain was a lot more strenuous than I had planned for. However we made it back up in record time and then had to go back down the other side to get back to our car.

Overall this adventure was well worth the drive and unique with the lake trail option. I would love to visit this trail in the winter and check out the XC-Ski trails, or try the foot trail with my snowshoes.

Cathedral Rock

This trail is located in the Adirondack Mountains, and is part of the Fire Tower Challenge.

Although this hike was only 2.1 mile roundtrip, the views from the top are worth the short climb.

The trail offers varying levels of terrain, big cliff views and a series of switchbacks near the top of the mountain.

At the top there is a picnic table to enjoy a quick lunch or if you are like me, you prefer to eat your lunch in the clouds… at the top of the tower!

This fire tower is unique due to the Alidade Table. These tables were used to identify the location of any forest fires.

After enjoying my lunch, it was a quick run to the bottom, and I was off to my next adventure!

Paddling Moose River

Summer is always a great time to visit the Adirondacks, especially Old Forge. Along with the quaint shops and unique restaurants, there are some outdoor experiences that are a must do!

Tickner’s Canoes is right when you enter into the village. They have numerous rental options, ranging from canoes to kayaks. They offer day rentals and even bring you to a starting point, so that you can paddle down to their shop.

For this specific trip my sister and her fiancé’ were visiting from Florida. We rented kayaks for a 4 hour trip to explore Moose River. We put on our lizard shirts and started paddling.

The river was calm and slow moving, so there was a lot of paddling that had to be done. We were able to enjoy the nice warm day and even stopped for a minute to take a dip.

The river provides great views of the Adirondack forest.

I had to convince the Floridians to paddle a little faster if we were ever going to make it back before nightfall.

We worked up an appetite after our paddle and stopped at Daikers for some lunch and a cold beer. They have the best views in the area and great food, drinks and live music!

Echo Cliffs at Panther Mountain

May 7, 2020

From as far back as I can remember I have always loved the outdoors. My family would take week long camping trips each year to Moffitts Beach in Speculator, NY. Some of my favorite memories were made there, especially our annual hike up Panther Mountain. We would pick a morning to go, and we would load up the truck with 10-15 people to take the climb.

Although we do not take the camping trip any longer, I have been keeping the traditional hike alive. I have hiked the mountain in the middle of the summer, in the pitch black to see an early morning sunrise, I have brought friends to take in its’ beauty, and it was the first hike my boyfriend and I took our dog on.

My most recent trip was this past weekend. It was a hot day for early May and the sun was shinning.

The trail is only 1.6 miles, so it makes for a quick and easy climb. It took me roughly 25 minutes to reach the summit. Near the top it does get fairly steep, and using your hands is required. It was especially muddy and the winter snow had melted into running streams all down the mountain.

The trail has so many unique features, that seem to change every time I climb. There are numerous rock stairways, such as the one below.

Along with giant roots that other hikers have added some flair to.

One of my favorite trees on this hike, is what I call the “Tree of Life”. I have used the roots to hoist myself endless times, using a new path each time.

The top provides a gorgeous view of the many lakes surrounding Piseco and Speculator.

After a quick lunch I made my way back down the mountain. Enjoying yet again another perfect hike up Panther Mountain.

Autumn in the Catskills

Nothing beats the views in Upstate NY during Fall. I am centrally located near the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains. In the past I have traveled to the Catskills and have completed all five of the firetowers. I decided to head out this weekend to add another Catskill mountain to my list.

I chose Bramley Mountain, located in Delhi NY. This trail is the fifth addition created by the Catskill Mountain Club. The trail is located off of a dirt road and offers parking for up to 15 cars. This scenic loop is roughly 4 miles long and gives you two trail options to choose from.

I started with the Quarry Trail which began as an easy walk through deep woods and slowly gained in elevation. Although the climb to the summit was fairly easy, I did work up a sweat the last .5 miles. It would be easy to get lost in the woods, especially with all of the fallen leaves, but the trail is extremely well marked with blue trail markers and arrows at times to make sure you were heading in the right direction.

It took me about 1 hour at a steady pace to reach the summit. At the top there were two spots that offered amazing views of the Catskill Range. I happened to go during peak week, so the foliage was on point and blazing for miles. I stopped at the top for a few minutes to snap some photos, catch my breath, and then headed back down the mountain.

I chose to descend down the Summit Trail, which looped back to the parking area. This trail was very wide and seemed to be a four-wheeling trail. It was a peaceful walk through the woods and there were some occasional hills to climb down. I was able to capture some great videos of all of the leaves falling, it was as though it was raining leaves! I was able to get back down the mountain in 30 mins, running at times when the trail was flat.

Overall this was an easy climb, close to home, and offered great views of the changing trees. I lucked out and happened to go during Taste of the Catskills, which was going on right down the road. This year was the 10^th year that the event has been going on. It is located at Maple Shade Farm and offered numerous activities, food and vendors. The farm is an amazing venue and has a beautiful vintage barn, where they hold weddings and other special events.

Taste of the Catskills, Maple Shade Farm

Here is a list of the vendors that I was able to check out while I was there.

I had a nice cold Rare Voss from Ommegang.

Enjoyed an amazing Thai Curry Chicken taco from Tys-Taco-Rita

Grabbed some Lemon Tumeric Salad Dressing from Farmer Street Pantry

Brought home some Ginger Hibiscus Cider from Awestruck

Spiced Honey Liquor from KAS Spirits, which pairs nicely with lemon and apple cider

I will hopefully be heading back to the Catskills in the next few weeks to check off a few more must do hikes.

Spring into Hiking

Living in Upstate NY we deal with a long, cold, snowy winter. With the sun peaking through more and more everyday my hiking boots have been screaming to be used. There are many trails that open for Spring hiking in early April-May. Before setting out for your next adventure here are some tips to remember for Spring Hiking.

Weather Unpredictability– Although it may seem like a beautiful day and the temperature at your house is in the 60’s, it could be completely different at the top of a mountain. Always make sure to check the weather conditions for the place that you are hiking in. You might be dealing with snow, ice and plenty of mud. I use the App All Trails, before I go on any hike. It not only provides you details about the hike, it also has reviews from other hikers about the current conditions of the trail.
Clothing – Again, do not base your clothing choice on the weather at your house. Always bring extra socks, long sleeves, hats and even gloves. If you get warm you can always take layers off, but if you get cold, and have nothing to put on, it will make for an uncomfortable hike.
Hydrate! – Even though you might not be sweating, you are still using energy. You do not want to become dehydrated on your hike. Always bring a canister filled with water, you may not be able to find water along the trail to fill up. I always bring my LifeStraw Personal Water Filter, even on short hikes. It is light weight and you can carry it around your neck. It is fairly cheap, $20, and provides 4,000 liters of clean, filtered water.
Ticks! – As the snow melts, Spring’s creatures are awakening. Ticks are one of the major bugs to look out for when deep in the woods. Ticks are known for carrying Lyme disease and sometimes can be undetectable until it is too late. Wearing clothing over your arms and legs can prevent them from sticking to your skin. You can also use tick repellents, and wear light-colored clothing. As soon as you get home make sure to check your entire body.
Sunlight – You might not be laying out on a beach, but that doesn’t mean the sun can not burn you. Wearing sunscreen or a hat will prevent sunburns that can creep up on you. Also be aware of when the sun sets. You do not want to be caught on a trail as the sun is going down, especially without a flashlight.
Day Pack – Speaking of flashlights, that is one essential you should always bring with you. Many of us use the same bag year after year. Check your bag before you prepare for 2019 Hiking and stock up on the essentials you may have gotten rid of last year. Some items to keep in your bag: socks, lightweight jacket, gloves & hat, trail snacks, first aid kit, lighter/matches, sunscreen, toilet paper, knife, portable cell phone charger.

Now that you are prepared for your first hike of the season you just need to choose your destination!

Goodnow Mountain-Adirondack Range April 2018

Hiking*Gypsy

What is a Hiking Gypsy?

Screen Shot 2019-04-15 at 3.52.00 PM

Hiking: outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments,

Gypsy: a nomadic or free-spirited person

These two words combined are exactly what I am!

I believe that life is all about finding the things that make you happy. For me, hiking is one of them. I love the feeling of struggling up a mountain and getting to the top to see the most amazing view. I have found that it is a great way for me to disconnect from life’s hassles and connect with myself.

I created this blog to share some of my experiences and give guidance for those who want to get into hiking or need an idea on where to go next.

Please enjoy!