Monthly Archives: April 2017

Fahnestock in Spring

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“I find that the three truly great times for thinking thoughts are when I am standing in the shower, sitting on the john, or walking. And the greatest of these, by far, is walking.”

-Colin Fletcher

I believe that I have noted before that one of the best things about hiking in the Hudson Valley is how the terrain changes along with the change of each season. Today is April 30th and as you can see by the pictures, winter is out of the picture and spring is here to stay.

Today’s journey was a familiar one in Fahnestock State Park. Although it is a pretty short hike at 2.7 miles, it was nice to get out since I didn’t have the entire day to spend on the trail. Once again I was lucky enough to have my daughter join me (even though she said she had homework to finish!) and that always makes any hike that much better.

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The start and end to todays hike. You have to love the AT!

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“Although the vast majority of walkers never even think of using a walking staff, I unhesitatingly include it among the foundations of the house that travels on my back.” -Colin Fletcher

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Runoff from Canopus Lake in Fahnestock State Park. 

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The view on the 3 Lakes Trail.

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If you look closely at the water you can see the rain. It lasted for 10 minutes.

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3 Lakes Trail

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In a couple of weeks this short part of the trail will be transformed into a lush tunnel of green.

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I have hiked by this section on the 3 Lakes Trail and have never seen any evidence of beavers until today.

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More work by the beavers.

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The beaver dam.

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A cairn where the 3 Lakes Trail intersects with the Appalachian Trail. It seems to change every time I pass by it. 

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The view on the Appalachian Trail.

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Another view on the AT.

“Hiking and happiness go hand in hand (or foot in boot).”

-Diane Spicer

Netflix-Thirteen Reasons Why

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About two weeks ago Netflix came out with a series based on a book by Jay Asher entitled Thirteen Reasons Why. Disturbing on several levels, I watched the first season with a sense of sadness, always hoping that one character or another would be able to help Hannah, the young lady who has committed suicide. I usually try to read the book before I watch something, but after listening to my colleagues talk about the series, I decided to watch it first. This is truly an amazing series.

I don’t want to spend any time going into the entire story, I’ll leave that for you to do. I do, however, strongly recommend viewing this 13 episode series.

What I have done is written a poem from the lead characters point of view.

I breathe the air of despair, not knowing why.

In and out, every waking moment a trial, I am the accused.

The mask I see reflected back at me, filled with pain, not knowing why.

My life is a charade, why would they? How could they?

The pieces of the puzzle, spread out before me, a mystery, for how long?

Each piece a variation on a theme. How do they fit together? Will they fit together? Should they fit together?

I search for the truth, and as my truth unfolds, I am lost, now knowing why.

Days pass and I circle the hole, fighting not to be consumed, but I can’t hold on. 

The puzzle refuses to come together. I am not whole and as unrequited love passes by, I cry, not knowing why.

Warm water cascades over me and as I slowly slide into nothing, why did she do it they will say.

Will they ever know why? Should they know why? I am tired of not knowing why.

 

A Variation on the Doodletown Bridle Path (2nd Attempt)

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***I received several messages yesterday saying that the pictures associated with this post could not be viewed. I am reposting the hike from yesterday and hopefully they will come out. If they don’t, please leave me a reply. Thanks to everyone who let me know yesterday!

“In winter, I plot and plan. In spring, I move.”

-Henry Rollins

We are enjoying another beautiful day here in the Hudson Valley. It appears as though winter has left us and spring will take hold until summer crashes down upon us (in a couple of days!) So, a great day means a great hike. Today, my daughter and I went into Bear Mt. and did a variation on one of the hikes in Circuit Hikes In Harriman. I got to spend some quality time with my daughter and got some fantastic pictures. Spring continues to be an awesome time to hike and get recharged for summer.

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A Variation on the Doodletown Bridle Path

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“In winter, I plot and plan. In spring, I move.”

-Henry Rollins

We are enjoying another beautiful day here in the Hudson Valley. It appears as though winter has left us and spring will take hold until summer crashes down upon us (in a couple of days!) So, a great day means a great hike. Today, my daughter and I went into Bear Mt. and did a variation on one of the hikes in Circuit Hikes In Harriman. I got to spend some quality time with my daughter and got some fantastic pictures. Spring continues to be an awesome time to hike and get recharged for summer.
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Opening Day at the Elephant’s Trunk

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“I never knew whether I was drawn to eccentric people or if they were drawn to me.”
―Dean Koontz

“I think what people call “weird” comes part and parcel with people who are brilliant in some way. So embrace your weird. Embrace your eccentricity.”
― Eileen Anglin

“I find only freedom in the realms of eccentricity.”

-David Bowie

For all of you who love flea markets, the Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market in New Milford, CT opened its season on 4/9/17. As you would expect, vendors were out in force selling a wide variety of  goods from the mundane to the deliciously eccentric. Flea markets, especially this one,  are truly a showcase for those who won’t be selling their creations at IKEA any time soon. When you see some of the more odd things that are being sold, you are guaranteed that the people behind the creations also have a story to tell. Fascinating creations being sold by equally as fascinating people. Here are pictures of some of the more interesting things I saw on Sunday.

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The Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market is open every Sunday from 7:00 am-2:00 pm and is located at 490 Danbury Rd, New Milford, CT 06776 (www.etflea.com) If you are ever in the area and enjoy flea markets, take the time to visit this one.

Horn Hill Bike Path X2-Walking Meditation

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“The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, the wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms.”

-Nhat Hanh
“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.”
-Nhat Hanh
“Walk so that your footprints bear only the marks of peaceful joy and complete freedom. To do this you have to learn to let go. Let go of your sorrows, let go of your worries. That is the secret of walking meditation.”
-Nhat Hanh

 

Last summer I did a whole bunch of hikes from a book called, Circuit Hikes In Harriman by Don Weise. Today (4/11/17), I was going to do a pretty lengthy hike but when my daughter asked if she could go hiking again today (WOW!!), I decided to do this relatively easy loop in Harriman State Park.

Once again, the difference in what the woods look like from season to season is truly amazing. Five and a half miles later, I think that I got some pretty decent photos.

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The start of the Horn Hill Bike Path. Nice and flat!

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Canada Geese feeding a pond next to the trail.

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The same geese…

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Trees along the trail.

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The Appalachian Trail crosses this trail at two points during the hike.

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The AT headed south towards Georgia.

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Looking south behind us on the trail.

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As you hike along the bike path, the Ramapo Dunderberg Trail crosses its path. Here are some nice stone steps to help you on your way.

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Beechy Bottom Road

 

Affirmations

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Last summer I saw this affirmation, published it on my blog and was thinking about it today on my hike. After reading it again almost eight months later, I still believe in what it says.

“I no longer have patience for certain things, not because I’ve become arrogant, but simply because I reached a point in my life where I do not want to waste more time with what displeases me or hurts me. I have no patience for cynicism, excessive criticism and demands of any nature. I lost the will to please those who do not like me, to love those who do not love me and to smile at those who do not want to smile at me. I no longer spend a single minute on those who lie or want to manipulate. I decided not to coexist anymore with pretense, hypocrisy, dishonesty and cheap praise. I do not tolerate selective erudition nor academic arrogance. I do not adjust either to popular gossiping. I hate conflict and comparisons. I believe in a world of opposites and that’s why I avoid people with rigid and inflexible personalities. In friendship I dislike the lack of loyalty and betrayal. I do not get along with those who do not know how to give a compliment or a word of encouragement. Exaggerations bore me and I have difficulty accepting those who do not like animals. And on top of everything I have no patience for anyone who does not deserve my patience.”

― José Micard Teixeira

Anthony’s Nose in the Spring

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“Take only memories, leave only footsteps.”

-Chief Seattle

With spring upon us it can only be assumed that I would make a trip to Anthony’s Nose. For mid April (4/10/17), the weather was perfect and the trail was as beautiful as you would imagine it would be. What also made this hike special was my fifteen (almost sixteen) year old daughter asked if she could come hiking with me. I almost fell over with surprise. Because of hockey, “I’m tired,” and “I have too much school work,” she really hasn’t been out with me much the last couple of years so this was really nice.

One quick side note-As we sat at the top taking pictures, several people made their way from the trail to the view-point. As one group sat and ate a snack, three young ladies arrived and started taking pictures of each over looking the Bear Mt. Bridge. Normally I wouldn’t even give this a second thought, but when they started giving each other directions such as, “lift you leg,” “turn to your left” and “fix your hair,” I literally began to laugh out loud. Even my daughter, who is obviously much closer in age to them as I am, found this amusing as well.

Please don’t get me wrong, I take pictures while I am hiking all of the time. You have seen many of them here on this blog. But posing for pictures like you are on a model shoot to me is over the line. And…after ten minutes of posing for pictures, one of the young ladies turned, posed and then said to her friends, “Is this hikey enough?” Oh boy…

I have no idea why this bothers me so much.

Anyway, here are pictures of yet another hike to Anthony’s Nose.

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A brook at the beginning of the hike.

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A small pond filled with fresh rain and melted snow.

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A freight train heading north on the Hudson River.

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Perkins Memorial Tower at the top of Bear Mt., approximately 300 feet higher than Anthony’s Nose.

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Old glory standing stiffly, crimson white and indigo.

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A wide shot of Bear Mt. as seen from the Nose.