“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”
“The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.”
-John Muir
Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in New York.
Forest
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Tag Archives: hudson valley ny
Back To The Brown Trail!!!
“On a hike, the days pass with the wind, the sun, the stars; movement is powered by a belly full of food and water, not a noxious tankful of fossil fuels. On a hike, you’re less a job title and more a human being. A periodic hike not only stretches the limbs but also reminds us: Wow, there’s a big old world out there.”
“Hiking and happiness go hand in hand or foot in boot.”
-Diane Spicer
For the first time in about nine months I returned to the Brown Trail at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Although it was around 75 degrees, the canopy of the spring trees provided enough cover to keep things cool.
Happy Hiking!!!
Hike #10-5.1-59.2
Early, Early Morning
“Enjoyment of the landscape is a thrill.”
-David Hockney
If this weather could go on for just a little bit longer that would be great. However, I am certain we will be punished soon enough with humid days and temperatures in the 90’s. With that said, this morning proved to be nice and cool, allowing me to get in a six mile hike through Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.
5:15 am
The field below the parking lot. As the sun came up, the haze disappeared.
Happy Hiking!!!
Hike #9-6.1-54.1
Why The AT? Then Again, Why Not?
“To travel, to experience and learn: that is to live.” –Tenzing Norgay
In a little under two years I will be eligible to retire from my job as a special educator. In NYS, teachers can retire at the age of 55 if they have 30 years in the system. Directly after high school I spent four years in the Marine Corps, then went to school and worked other jobs for several years before teaching.
So what does this mean? It means that my time in education is near an end. So what next?
As I mentioned in my previous post, my first goal in retirement is to thru hike the Appalachian Trail. As a matter of course, the first question that everyone always asks anyone with a similar goal is “Why?”
With that said, let’s get the “why” out of the way.
My first adult real life challenge came in October 1983 when I reported to Parris Island, SC for basic training with the USMC. Without a doubt, this was the most difficult thing that I had done in my life, both physically and mentally. To describe it as three months of pure hell would be an understatement!
After being discharged I began hiking more than I ever had and used this as my primary form of exercise during the months that were suitable for hitting the trail. The rest of the year was spent riding a stationary bike in an attempt to try to get and stay in shape. This remains true to this day.
So, when you look at my love of hiking and put that together with a lifelong desire to accomplish difficult tasks, a thru hike almost seems inevitable. Why not?
More on this as I continue my research of the AT and engage in some more self reflection.
Cairn You Do It? Yes You Can…
“Cairns represent a trail marker that guides one through uncertain areas in life. They provide guidance, hope, balance, continuity, and confidence on the journey down the path of life.”
-John P. Kraemer
These pictures were taken on my hike today at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. I immediately knew that they needed to be in black & white in order to bring out each rocks true character.
A Hike On Cinco De Mayo
“For me nature is not landscape, but the dynamism of visual forces.”
-Bridget Riley
For the fifth of May it was quite a day. At 5:20 am when I started my hike it was cool with a pretty strong breeze. It was glorious! Spring is in full effect baby and the trails were as perfect as you would expect them to be.
Happy Hiking!!!
Hike #8-7.6-48.0
Another Beautiful Morning Heading Into Work
“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.”
–Ansel Adams
It’s May!
“The month of May is the pleasant time; its face is beautiful; the blackbird sings his full song, the living wood is his holding, the cuckoos are singing and ever singing; there is a welcome before the brightness of the summer.”
–Lady Gregory
Another perfect day for a spring hike! 68 degrees and a nice breeze kept the bugs away and the six miles went by really quick. It’s a shame every day couldn’t be like this.
Happy Hiking!!!
Hike #7-6.1-40.4
Which Way Photo Challenge-(CCW)
For this challenge I chose three photographs that I have taken while hiking. The first denotes where vehicle travel ends and foot travel begins on a trail in Harriman State Park. The second and third were taken in Bear Mt. State Park along the Appalachian Trail.
Reflections
“On the still waters of surrender, the reflections of clarity appears.”
-Bryant McGill
“The world is but a canvas to our imagination.”
-Henry David Thoreau
My daughter is taking a photography class as an elective in her high school and her most recent assignment was to capture “reflections.” So today we ventured out to Fahnestock State Park to Pelton Pond to look for some reflections on the water. Since I had to drive her there, I figured that I would bring my own camera to see what pictures I could get. Even though it was a cloudy day, I think these photos came out reasonably well.
The Zen Hiker 