Tag Archives: Nature

A New Years Special

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“Days of high temperature are almost disposable. Time gets pureed in the swelter of it all. Cold-weather hours drags, days and nights become small epics. I welcome the bleakness!”

~Henry Rollins

“While I relish our warm months, winter forms our character and brings out our best.”

-Tom Allen

“Winter is not a season, it’s a celebration.”

-Anamika Mishra

The last hike of 2016!!!! Since it was already 2:30 by the time I got to the trailhead, I decided to go ahead and do the quick loop in Fahnestock State Park.The loop ensured that I would get a good work out and more importantly, that I would be out of the woods before it got dark.

As soon as I came down off of Route 301, the sound of cars passing quickly disappeared and I was quickly embraced by the silence of the woods. I was lucky enough to be alone in my endeavor and I relished every minute I was out there. The sound of my hiking poles mixed with the crunch of the ice under my boots made for an interesting soundtrack as I made my way through the woods.

Although it was cold and the wind was blowing, the solitude was bliss!

Enjoy the photos!!!

 

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Happy New Year and Happy Hiking in 2017!

Lake Mahopac in B & W

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“Black and white are the colors of photography. To me they symbolize the alternatives of hope and despair to which mankind is forever subjected.”

-Robert Frank

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Renewal (3)

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Rushing into the house just a few minutes ago after walking our elderly neighbors dogs, my daughter exclaimed, “Dad, quick, you have to get a picture of the sunset.” Walking to the front door, I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of the sunset that I saw before me. Most people think of sunrises as being a period of renewal, but after a morning of snow that turned to a drenching rain that lasted more than seven hours, the sunset today was amazing and a great way to end the day. To me, a period of renewal.

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Renewal

Finding Your Place-Anthony’s Nose

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Over the years, whenever I have had to think something through or have had a particularly bad day, I’ll head to Anthony’s Nose. The Nose has proven to be a special place for me because it gives me the chance to get away from everything and do what I need to do to get back on track. The soft earth under my feet, the wind blowing around me and the warmth of the sun has been incredibly therapeutic for me.

Although I have made my way to the Nose during every season of the year, the winter months are a special time to hike there. Even though it isn’t that warm and snow or ice may cover the trail, it offers many more views than the other seasons. After spending some time at the top, I know that I can head back to real life refreshed and ready to move on.

In good times and bad-I have found my place.

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Finding Your Place

New Horizon-A Rivers Promise

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“Keep your rivers flowing as they will, and you will continue to know the most important of all freedoms—the boundless scope of the human mind to contemplate wonders, and to begin to understand their meaning.”

—David Brower

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New Horizon

A Winter Hike to the Nose

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“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.

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12/24/16-The start of the climb to Anthony’s Nose. 

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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.

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12/24/16-A view you would never get during the summer!

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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!

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12/24/16-Iona Island to the lower left and Bear Mt. to the right.

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Dunderberg Mt.

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Bear Mt. and the Bear Mt. bridge to the right.

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Bear Mt. 

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Another viewpoint, just off of the Nose looking North towards West Point.

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Sugarloaf as seen from the alternate viewpoint.

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A tighter view looking North on the Hudson.

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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 Demise of Another Day

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Sunset

Red streaks stain an

Icy canvas, orange

Hues slide slowly between the trees,

Frosty limbs masking the death of

Each weary day, waiting

For destinies

New dawn

 

 

 

 

 

Relax (1)

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As an avid hiker I am on an endless search for places or views that promote my inner peace and give me a chance to relax. I believe this photo speaks for itself!!!!

“Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.”             William S. Burroughs

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Relax