Indulge in snowy madness with white crystals falling,
Head raised, hexoganal treats on the tongue,
Melting quickly, liquid memories fading,
Isolated and fantastic pleasure found in each flake,
The trail shows a vast wasteland of missed opportunities,
Each one not caught collects on the cold earth,
Desolate and not forgiving, forever lost in the blowing wind,
The memories gather in peace, with each fallen flake,
Consoling each other, as one.
As I sit at work and think of spring,
The warmer days and the hikes it will bring,
I dream of the trail and not of the cold,
Leaves on the trees, a scene to behold,
I know that day will be here, no time to lament,
Of harsh winter nights, awaitng springs soft sweet scent.
A misty morning last year on the trail.
Springs awakening,
Mist covered path provides me
With solace and peace,
Quiet days speak the loudest,
Each day its own beginning
When I walk into the woods,
I feel the comforting embrace of the trail,
Each step wrapping me tighter in the cloak of its essence,
Like a mother swaddling a newborn,
The cloak reaffirms the journey,
Drowning each sorrow with the promise of tomorrow,
The trail my refuge, my hideout,
The woods calling out, offering nothing but safe passage,
Thoughts of the empty miles ahead, filled with the scent of Spring,
Trees swaying in a calming cadence that help me navigate
Each winding trail as if it were my own,
The woods, my refuge, my hideout.
Cold winter nights, fresh snow softly falling,
Thoughts of warmer days with a pack on my back,
Moving silently through the woods, boots kicking up dirt.
Newly released from winters grasp, each step a promise,
A promise of longer days and peaceful nights that bring
The mesmerizing rush of spring streams and the crack of dead
Winter limbs. As the woods open their arms and embrace each soul
As its own, we long for the simple touch of springs sweet caress.
Hiking on New Years Day.
“Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken.”
-Frank Herbert
“Now I see the secret of making the best person, it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.”
-Walt Whitman
It’s been awhile since I was able to get out for a hike on the last day of the old year and the first day of the new. Since both days were beautiful, I really had no excuse not to get out into the woods. Sunday January 1st was a clear crisp day in the low to mid 40’s. Compared to my hike on 12/31, the trail here was not covered with ice, which made it much easier to get around.
Starting on a side road just north of the Appalachian Market at the split of Route 9 and 403, we hiked back south on Route 403 for a few hundred yards where the AT crosses the highway and the goes south.
The AT moving steadily uphill. The picture was taken about 1 mile from where it crosses Route 9.
Looking back down th AT.
Once you get to the top of the hill after a steady 1.5 mile climb, make a left on the AT and proceed south on the now white marked AT and blue blazed Osborne Loop Trail. About 200 yards farther south, you will see a well worn trail off to the right. This leads to lookout over the Hudson.
The Hudson River looking south.
The Hudson River looking north.
After spending some time at the view point, we got back on the trail and headed north on the AT/Osborne Loop back to where the AT heads north and the Osborne Loop continues moving downhill. After another mile, the Osborne Loop tuns left and keeps heading downhill. After walking for five minutes you come upon this wooden gazebo. It has been there for many years and was restored in 1996.
The Osborne Loop headed towards Sugarloaf. Notice the gazebo on the right.
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The ceiling of the gazebo.
Photo taken from the gazebo.
After you spend some time at the gazebo, keep heading down the trail, you will see red blazes marking the Sugarloaf Hill trail. Make the left onto this trail and head steadily uphill. The trail here is pretty difficult but the climb is worth it.
As you look south on the Hudson, you can see Anthony’s Nose on the left.
After descending the hill, you will go back the way you came on the blue trail for a short period of time. Instead of turning right and heading back uphill on the blue trail, you will continue on the yellow blazed carriage connector trail. You will stay on this trail until it intersects with the AT. Follow the AT out to Route 9 and you are finished!
The rest of the photos here and below were taken on the yellow blazed carriage connector trail.
Needless to say this was a great way to start not only the calendar year, but the hiking new year as well! Six and half miles with a couple of pretty intense climbs and some great views make it al worthwhile!
Happy hiking everyone!!!
A chilly wind blows,
Each step softly sinks into
Slushy winter fun
“Winter is a season of recovery and preparation.”
-Paul Theroux
“He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter.”
-John Burroughs
“Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.”
-Pietro Aretino
You know it’s going to be a good hike when your long time hiking buddy shows up at the trail head and after a good twelve hours of snow, freezing rain and rain, it all just stops! Ten minutes later the sun is out. You couldn’t ask for anything better.
Yes, I headed back up to Anthony’s Nose on a day that started off slushy, icy and nasty. As I looked up the trail, I have to admit that I was a little worried noticing that it was all a sheet of ice. With that said, after about 200 yards, the trail became more slushy which made it much more manageable.
12/24/16-The start of the climb to Anthony’s Nose.
12/24/16-A quick 180 degree turn from the picture above looking back towards the start.
Since I have not been up to the Nose this late in December for a couple of years, I really forgot about how the views drastically change now that the trees are bare. You get an entirely different perspective on winter hiking.
12/24/16-A view you would never get during the summer!
12/24/16-The Nose in the distance as seen from the Appalachian Trail. This is the only time of year you get this view of the Nose.
Once I got to the top I was pleasantly surprised with the awesome views that were waiting. for me! The difference between pictures during the summer and now are incredible. Once again, this is why I love this hike!
12/24/16-Iona Island to the lower left and Bear Mt. to the right.
Dunderberg Mt.
Bear Mt. and the Bear Mt. bridge to the right.
Bear Mt.
Another viewpoint, just off of the Nose looking North towards West Point.
Sugarloaf as seen from the alternate viewpoint.
A tighter view looking North on the Hudson.
A small pond, now frozen, that you see on the way up and down from th Nose.
As always, any hike to the Nose is a good one. If you want to, go back to my posts in July and August to get a good look at the differences in the terrain depending on the season.
Happy Hiking!!!
The Zen Hiker 