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Spring 2026

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Spring 2026

On Monday, April 20th, I really wanted to go for a hike even the weather forecast was for snow and rain showers with overcast skies and temperatures only in the high 30s! This was a stark contrast to the 70's and 80's of last week. I had ambulance coverage between 0:30 Am and 2:30 PM. I knew Sheena would be excited as we had been hiking more frequently recently and she expects it. I did some work around the house and then decided ir was time to make a decision. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike and he said "Yes" despite the less than ideal weather. We decided to hike the Parksville Rail Trail as we could turn around at any time it Sheena was too cold. As we began to get ready at 10:45 AM the temperature on the back porch was was 37 degrees and some sun was beginning to peek through the overcast. Sheena loves warm places and has a short coat but also seems to be okay with cooler temperatures. The Parksville Rail Trail is under three miles out and back but keeping a quick pace helps increase the difficulty as does a full backpack. Sheena actually does get in about twice the mileage that I do as she forges ahead and then comes back! I have transitioned from using a leash all the time to using a GarmimSport PRO electronic collar which has many versatile settings and seems to do the job. This allows Sheena to roam and keeps me sane by not having to yank on her leash. It seems that Sheena likes hiking as she smells my clothes and then runs to sit by the door or wanders around my study watching me get dressed! On this day she could hardly contain herself! I got dressed in a Patagonia wool 1/4 zip top without a baselayer. I put on a pair of insulated hiking pants which seemed to have no maker's label attached. The pants fit well and seemed to have just the right insulation. For boots I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and seemed to be living up to their claims. I have recently bought several brands of socks and put on a pair of OTC socks from The Buffalo Wool Company. These socks are a mixture of Merino wool and bison fiber. They have a cushioned lower and a slighty thinner upper. I put on my Baerskin fleece hoody which is a bit warmer than my Mammut hoody. I grabbed a pair of Leki Micro Vario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I chose a light hat to cover my ears and a light pair of gloves. I remembered to wear my OR BugOut gaiters to repel any mud or ticks we might encounter. I decided to take my pack as I could carry my camera and it added a little difficulty to an otherwise easy trail. As we walked out to the car at 11:05 AM, the sky was still overcast but the sun was shining through. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheena in the back seat and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. I turned left under the Quickway overpass onto Service Road. I drove toward Parksville and pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road just after Fox Mountain Rd. There was one cars parked in the lot when we arrived. I got out of the car and made sure Sheena's ecollar was adjusted correctly as I let her out of the car. When I opened the car door, Sheena came out like a shot and headed for the trail. We started on our hike at 11:20 AM with the temperature at 36 degrees. There were a few flakes in the air and a good breeze was blowing.

The trail was bare and only slightly damp at the beginning but I wondered what it would look like in the shade of the trees. It was a pleasure to be able to walk without worrying about getting a good place to plant your feet in the snow and ice. Off her leash Sheena runs ahead of us a certain distance and then maintains that distance by waiting or increasing her pace. On this day she seemed to be very interested in the many game trails that had been under the snow. We were soon under the cover of the trees and the trail remand completely devoid of snow and ice. The usual spots ahd some standing water and mud but for the most part they were easy to avoid. Sheena was enjoying the freedom of the hike and the various game tracks she could find. She did not seem cold as she had on some previous hikes. I was happy I wore the Baerskin hoody as it is warm and blocks the wind well. The trail runs parallel to the Little Beaverkill and the new section of State Route 17. It follows the route of the O&W railroad and is very flat. Sheena was setting a quick pace and I didn't mind as long as she would listen and wait for me when necessary. The wind was perpendicular to the trail and I didn't notice it much except in the more open spaces. The biggest change in the trail conditions from my previous hikes was the mud pits that had opened up and the standing water on parts of the trail. This continued for much of the hike. I noticed that the noise from the stream was a roar and several views showed the water was high and running rapidly. We came to the viewpoint just before the wooden walkways which has a nice view down to the stream. I had almost decided to just hike and avoid the photography but I took a peek and cage my mind. I took out the camera a got some shots of the stream and the sky. When I finished, we walked across the wooden walkways which were still slippery even without a ridge of ice. The area before the bridge had running water and more water was passing under the bridge. There was a large patch of mud after the bridge.

We came to the landslide that had brought down several trees that had been cut and cleared. This area also had open water and a lot of mud. We negotiated this area and continued toward the falls. As we approached the falls there was a a significant increase in noise from the stream. The falls came into view and the water level was even higher than on our last trip. I started down the path to the streambed with Sheena right behind me. As usual, Cindy stayed on the rail rail relaxing on the picnic table. Sheena and I worked our way down to the edge of the stream. I was carefult to pick where I put me feet as the wet rocks with wetter leaves and moss were treacherous. When we got to the bottom, Sheena began to sniff around while I got out the camera. Sheena immediately posed on a rock with the falls in the background. I took some shots of her and then turned my attention to the falls. I took some shots of the whole scene including the falls amd the rapids below the falls. I zoomed in and took pictures at different zoom levels to isolate different parts of the scene. At one point Cindy yelled something down to me but I could not hear her over the roar of the falls. I assumed that there might be a hiker with a dog so I made sure Sheena stayed with me. When I was done, I stowed the camera and we worked our way back up the bank. Cindy confirmed that there was a hiker with his golden retriever. We had met them both before and his dog is well-behaved but wants to play. I took some more pictures of the falls from above including the raids above the falls. My battery ran out just as I took the last picture!

We continued onward to the Parksville end of the trail. The remainder of the walk to the other end of the trail went quickly. Sheena took the lead which she sometimes is reluctant to do as there are sometimes dogs at the end of the trail. The large dog across the stream was absent. As we approached the end of the trail, the dogs that are usually outside barking were nowhere to be found! We tagged the end of the trail at 12:05 PM meaning it had taken us 45 minutes to hike and for me to take pictures. We turned around to head back to the car. It seemed the temperature had stayed the same and that the wind was still blowing gently but there was more sun. We walked quickly back toward the car with Sheena in the lead continuing to wander off trail. Sheena seemed fine and was not favoring any of her paws because of the cold. Within 7 minutes we passed by the falls and continued to push the pace. We soon came to the bridge and the walkways, where we carefully walked over the slippery surface. As we approached the end of the trail, Sheena decided to let off some more energy by executing a set of zoomies. I eventually called her and told her "With" which is the equivalent of "Heel". We arrived back at the car at 12:35 PM after hiking 3 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes. The return trip was fatser than the trip out because of our pace and the photography on the way out. The temperature had risen to 40 degrees and the wind was still blowing but there was more sun. Sheena seemed fresh and I felt she could have hiked out and back on the trail another time. When we returned home, there had been an ambulance call which the crew covered.

On Tuesday, September 2nd I wanted to get out for a longer hike as I had ambulance coverage from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. There were no ambulance calls overnight but I decided to get some sleep to make up for the last few nights. The pager awoke me at 8:55 AM but my crew was on it!. I got up and ate some breakfast and felt much better. In addition, Sheena was giving clear indications she wanted to hike. I started to get ready to hike at 10:00 AM with with the temperature at 70 degrees and Sheena watching my every move. I decided to hike the Parksville Rail Trail from Parksville toward Livingston Manor. I got dressed in a new Columbia Omni-Shade Omni-Wick shirt without a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last a long time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. I thought about wearing a pair of low-cut and lighter hiking shoes but thought the trail might be wet and muddy. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and seemed to be living up to their claims. I grabbed a pair of Leki Micro Vario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I also put on my OR BugOut gaiters for the ticks that are becoming active. I put the ecollar on Sheena and turned it on. At 10:20 AM I put my gear in the car and Sheena in the back seat. I headed out Old Route 17 across the Flats and then took Old Route 17 and Service Road to the point where they meet Fox Mountain Road. Just after this intersection is the western parking area for the rail trail. The parking lot was empty. I set my GPS to record our efforts. I put Sheena on her leash for the short road walk to the beginning of the trail.

We started out at 10:30 AM with the temperature right at 72 degrees. A slight breeze was blowing but the skies were bright and sunny with some billowing white clouds. We walked on Service Road toward Fox Mountain Road and turned left to walk underneath the Quickway. We walked back to the intersection of Fox Mounatin Road and Benton Hollow Road and hopped the guard rail where I took Sheena off her leash. We immediately came to what was left of the trestle supports that carried the trail tracks over the stream. I noticed what remained of a painting on the trestle. I had seen this painting before but had not realized it was a memorial to NASCAR driver Davey Allison #28 who drove the Texaco-Havoline Ford car. Allison died in a helicopter crash in 1993. Unfortunately, the paint was peeling and hardly readable anymore. We walked up the trail to left to the top of the trestle. As we entered the shade of the trees, it immediately seemed a little cooler. The trail was well defined and stretched ahead for some distance. Like most rail trails it is very straight. Town of Liberty Supervisor Frank DeMayo had told me that this was state land and the town had an agreement from the state to use it. The hope is to connect the Parksville Rail Trail to all the sections that stretch as far as Livingston Manor. We started to walk along the trail and I noticed there was quite a bit of traffic on the Quickway but that I could shut out the noise. The land dropped off steeply to the Little Beaverkill on the right. On the left were some "cliffs" which were the result of the railroad cutting a path for the tracks. We continued to walk along the well-defined trail which was only damp and a little muddy in places. It was a pleasant walk without many insects which surprised me. There were a number of blowdowns on the trail which could be removed with hand tools but the trail is not maintained at this point. I walked over or around these and removed some small branches on the trail as we walked. Sheena jumped over all the blowdowns. She can take a running start or seemingly jump from a standing start. There are two places along the trail where there are piles of garbage. It is hard to determine why they are there. Both piles had tarps over them which seemed to indicate someone once valued the items but people have begun to remove them. There are some very interesting signs. A VW bug was just over the bank on the right after the first pile of debris. We soon came to a gate on the trail which was odd since it was state land. We walked around the gate and continued on the rail trail. There was a path to the left just after the gate. It looked interesting but we stayed on the rail trail.

Soon we came to a small pond on the right with a red building behind it. The building looked to be in good shape but the windows were all boarded up. There was a definite path between the pond on the right and the wetlands on the left of the trail. It looked like a beaver trail to me but I could not see any dam, lodge, or even any trees that the beavers had cut. The level of the pond was higher than usual as we had heavy rain the night before. After hiking about 1.3 miles, we came to a driveway on the left which leads to the Sonoma Falls property. This is private property even though it is not posted. Hiking without permission is trespassing. At one time there was a campground on the property. Some local business people bought the property and built a cider mill and market. They took the time to construct some hiking trails along the stream. I remember that the falls were very nice with separate drops which increased in height the farther upstream one ventured. The business closed when not enough people would go out of their way to visit. It was 11:00 AM and it had only taken us 30 minutes to hike the 1.3 miles. We turned left and walked toward the buildings. To my surprise the main building and one out building had been torn down and all that remained was two piles of rubble. It looked like the stainless steel sink used to wash be apples and a machine to turn the apples into pulp for pressing had been saved. I put down my pack and got out the camera. The sun was very bright making the photography challenging. I walked to the front of what was left of the main building and took pictures of those remains. I am sure the owners felt they had to take down the buildings as they had been vacant for so many years. The roof of the main building had been collapsing. Vandals have painted graffiti on other buildings inside and out. It made me very sad to see this once busy attraction deteriorate so badly it had to be destroyed. We walked back to my pack at the stream just behind the building and I got my first look at the falls. They had not changed much and the water level was high. There was a falls right in front and one visible farther upstream an still another in the distance. I started taking the first of what would be a large number of pictures. I perched on some rocks and got a nice all of the falls. I picked up the pack and walked a little uphill where there was a nice viewpoint and I took some more pictures. I put the camera back in the pack as we walked the trail up to the second falls and I found a way to get down to the streambed to get a clear shot. There are several areas where there is laid up stone which made me think there had been mills along the stream at some point. I again put the camera in the pack as we walked a little farther upstream to the third set of falls. The amount of water coming over the falls was more than I had seen before and I found an angle to get some shots. This falls is formed not be rock formation but by a man-made dam.

We continued to walk and came to a small pond at the base of the highest falls so far. From the pond I took some shots of the falls and some pictures downstream toward the dam. The light was almost prefect!the sun. We continued to walk along the stream until I found a good viewpoint for the falls. I had to experiment with zoom and angles amd settings to get some shots. I took some shots and of the lower falls and a few of the upper. We walked up the bank and then up the hill toward the upper falls. We walked as far as we could and then descended some to get better pictures of the upper falls. When I was done, we walked back up the bank and then up the steep hill toward the uppermost falls. We walked along the edge of the gorge until I could get some shots of the last falls. This is by far the highest falls and trying to get all of it in one shot was challenging. I took a few shots and then moved a little more upstream for a better view of the upper drop of the three that make up these falls. The water level continued to be outstanding and the noise the falls was making was impressive. I took my last shots of the falls and then packed up to hike to the bridge over the stream at the top. The bridge was in poor shape. I was able to get some pictures of another small falls formed by a dam that impounds a pond. We turned around and walked the woods road until we came to a point where one branch goes straight ahead and the other turns left. We have hiked straight ahead several times but it is a bushwhack and usually very wet. I was also trying to avoid the ticks as much as possible so we turned left. We followed the woods road downhill all the way back to the remains of the buildings. We walked back out to the rail trail and Idecided to continue the hike to Old Liberty Road. We turned left and walked along the completely flat trail with wetlands on the right and "cliffs" on the left. These cliffs were formed by the railroad blasting a clear path for the tracks. The walk to Old Liberty Road went quickly and we were at the gate in 8 minutes. We immediately turned around and hiked back to the driveway to Sonoma Falls in 7 minutes. It wasn't very long before we were at the rail trail at the point near the gate. Sheena alerted and we saw an ATV coming toward us. It stopped and the driver and I greeted each other. It wasn't long before we realized we knew each. He seemed surprised when I told him about the removal of the Sonoma Falls building. We spent at least 15 minutes talking. He filled me in on the history of the land and the O&W. Eventually we parted as Sheena and I began a fast-paced walk back to the car. We made good time as there wasn't anything to hold us back. I was thirsty as I had decided not to bring a water bottle. Sheena had gotten some water from the various stream along the way. We were back at the car at 12:50 PM having hiked over 4 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes with 15 minutes of stopped time for photography and coversation. The ascent was over 300 feet almost all of which was the climb to the waterfalls. I do hope the plans to connect the sections of the rail trails are successful! I also hope that someone reopens Sonoma Falls to the public in some form as it is a beautiful setting.

On Tuesday, April 14th, I wanted to get out for a longer hike after sticking to shorter hikes on the rail trail. I was supposed to have ambulance coverage from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM which would allow me 6 hours to drive and hike. I intended to get up early and go to either Bramley Mt or Balsam Lake Mt since they both have fire towers. When I awoke at 7:00 AM it was very foggy so I thought might try the six mile loop around Hodge and Frick Ponds and leave the fire towers for another day. I had some things to take care of around the house and the fog finally dissipated around We started to get ready at 10:00 AM, the temperature on the back porch was 58 degrees with mostly overcast skies with only a little blue. As usual, Sheena was excited but was trying to be the "good dog". I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with no baselayer. I put on a pair of insulated hiking pants which seemed to have no maker's label attached. The pants fit well and seemed to have just the right insulation. I knew that this might be a little overkill. For boots I decided to put on my Keen Durand boots which fit well. I have recently bought several brands of socks and put on a pair of crew socks from Ecosox. These socks are primarily bamboo fiber and are soft but wear resistant. I put on my Mammut hoody which has a lot of zippers to dump heat when needed. I grabbed a pair of Leki Micro Vario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I decided to take a light hat and light gloves knowing I would probably leave them in the car as it was so warm. I also decided not to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters as they are very warm. I put my gear in the back and Sheena in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 10:20 AM. After 6 miles, at Mongaup Pond Road, I turned left and continued to follow the road bearing left onto Beech Mountain Road at the fork. When we arrived in the parking area there were no cars parked in either lot. Sheena was acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. I left my hat and gloves in the car. The temperature was 57 degrees and the skies were now mostly blue with white clouds and a slight breeze blowing. I set my GPS as we got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail. We crossed the road and began our hike at 10:40 AM.

The Flynn Trail is sited along what used to be Beech Mountain Road which was the access for the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We walked the trail through the woods which was damp in places but not muddy. We started out slowly but soon were keeping a good pace. We turned right on the woods road and began a consistent climb which slowed me down a but. The path was narrow and it was obvious a stream of water had run down the trail during the recent rains. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We passed the hemlock that used to form a tunnel but was cleared by the DEC. We began to find some small branches on the trail which had come down in the winds from various storms. We continued to find similar conditions for the rest of the hike. The day was getting warmer as the sun came out full force and the weather. I began to warm up even though I only had a single layer. I decided I would take off the Mammut hoody and store it in my pack. On the way up the trail we came to the rock ledges on the right side of the trail. I sometimes take pictures here but decided that I might not take any picures on this day. As we approached and the clearing to the right of the trail, I debated walking up to the field but decided against it. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining on the rocks and the trail. I noticed that I was very relaxed and decided it was partly due to the sounds of the winds and the birds. Sheena was keeping mostly to the trail amd coming back to check on me occasionally. We descended a little and then began walking uphill. We were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. I was a little tired and I needed to be back before 2:00 PM so I decided to leave the 6 mile loop for another day. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail. It was 11:35 AM and we had hiked 1.75 miles uphill in 55 minutes.

The Big Rock Trail was only a little damp as we started down the long descent. The hike down the trail went well and more quickly than I expected. It was definitely easier than the uphill hike. This trail can be tricky as there are three levels that make it seem like the bottom of the hill. On this day the descents seemed to go quickly and I was not discouraged. We were soon at Times Square and I thought about turning right to hike up and around the Logger's Loop to add some distance to our hike. I decided against this as it was getting late and we continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. The Big Rock Trail around the back of Frick Pond can be very wet and this day was no exception. Sheena tends to hike right through the water and mud as was getting filthy! There were several very muddy spots and two large puddles on the trail which I avoided. We crossed the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond and I decided not to stop to take a few pictures. One of the outlet streams looked as if the water was going underground and then shooting up like a fountain. When we got to the area that was covered by tall evergreens, I pushed on through as I had taken pictures here very recently. The wooden boardwalks continue to show wear with many boards loose and other beginning to rot. Much of the boardwalk now "floats" in midair as the supports are rotting. The local rangers and the DEC field office have been alerted several times but don't really seem to care.

The rest of the trail was damp with several wet and muddy spots. At the next trail junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. We walked along the west side of Frick Pond to the bridge across the outlet of the pond. The mudhole was wet but not muddy as the drainage work and the stepping stones did their job. I stopped at the bridge to admire two new beavers dams that had been constructed over the last two weeks. They were holding back most of the water and the level of the water now made it look like Frick Pond again. I hope that no one will disturb the dams as they have done in the past. I dropped my pack and got out the camera. I took a few shots of Sheena on the bridge. I then took pictures of the pond and the dams at various angles and zooms. I also photographed Beech Mountain and the out let downstream of the bridge. When I was done, put the camera away and shouldered my pack. Sheena and I then walked up the hill and continued to Gravestone Junction. We passed the Lobdell memorial marker. The marker is a memorial to two children who died in the 1930's in a fire that consumed their cabin. The trail to the memorial was well-worn but the marker was standing intact. The trail back to the register was damp and muddy in spots but not as wet as I has expected. We passed the trail register heading toward the parking area and continued straight ahead to follow the woods road out to the car. We arrived at the car at 12:50 PM having hiked 4.0 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes with an elevation gain of 670 feet. Our overall average speed was just under 2 MPH with a moving average of 2.1 MPH. The temperature had risen to 76 degrees!

On Friday, April 10th, I planned to get a hike in to make 3 days this week despite ambulance calls. I had ambulance coverage until 2:00 PM but thought I would do a shorter hike so that Cindy could go. I slept until 10:00 AM catching up on sleep I had lost responding to calls at night. The temperature was 64 degrees and the forecast was that it would get warmer. I asked Cindy if she would like to hike along the Beaverkill at the campgrounds. She said "Yes" as soon as she returned from the store. I thought the Beaverkill Campgrounds was a good choice as I expected the level of the water in the stream to be high from after the recent rainfall. We started to get ready at 11:30 AM with blue skies and plenty of sun. As usual, Sheena was excited but was trying to be the "good dog". I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with no baselayer. I put on a pair of insulated hiking pants which seemed to have no maker's label attached. The pants fit well and seemed to have just the right insulation. For boots I decided to put on my Keen Durand boots which fit well. I have recently bought several brands of socks and put on a pair of OTC socks from The Buffalo Wool Company. These socks are a mixture of Merino wool and bison fiber. They have a cushioned lower and a slighty thinner upper. I put on my Mammut hoody which has a lot of zippers to dump heat when needed. I grabbed a pair of Leki Micro Vario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I decided against a hat and gloves as it was so warm. I also decided not to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters as the route might be wet but not muddy. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheena in the back seat and left the house at 11:45 AM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. There were several cars parked in the lot with no one inside. There was a man preparing to hike with two dogs and, unfortunately, he was headed across the bridge on the same route we would take. A glance at the river showed that the level was nout qyite as high as our last trip but was stretching from high on one shore to high on the other.

I let Sheena out of the car and put her on her leash. We started our hike at 12:05 PM by walking out of the parking lot to the bridge with the temperature at 68 degrees. When we got to the other side, the gate that blocks the road along the river and through the old campsites was missing. I looked at the trail and saw that it had no snow or ice on it. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down the short hill. At the bottom of the hill I let Sheena off her leash as I did not see the man and his two dogs. I had decided to take some pictures on the way out. When we got to the spring house on the right I snapped a few shots of the ditch that runs from the spring which had some water plants already growing. When we got to the first culvert, I noticed that the path down to the edge of the stream was eroded and very steep. The rocks were damp and had some snow on them so I decided not to attempt to get down to the stream that way. I did find a route just after the culvert and worked my way down to the edge of the stream with my camera. Sheena followed me but was careful to stay away from the edge of the water. I took pictures of the stream trying to capture the sheer volume and velocity of the water. When I was done, we continued our walk along the woods road which did not have even a patch on ice or sbow. Sheena was running ahead of us back and forth following game trails and sniffing the air.

Along the way, the picnic tables blended into the landscape. The whole area had a haunted feeling enhanced by the sound of the flowing water. On the trail we passed by several areas with picnic tables. These tables sit unused and rotting along the road, a testimony to better days when this area had campsites. Now this area is used for day use only. We walked by more tables which had not been used in years. I stopped to take a few shots of the woods road and the picnic tables. Soon we came to what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. There were more tables in this area. We stopped and I walked to the stream where rocks had been piled up and contained by wire screen. I walked to the edge and carefully stood on some rocks to take more pictures of the stream in both directions. The bright sunlight made taking the pictures difficult. Sheena came over and stood on the wall next to me. The rapids in this area were more turbulent and the water was high. As I started up the bank, the two dogs we had seen earlier came running toward Sheena as they were not in a leash. I did not see the owner but I could hear a collar beeping. I shooed the dogs away as they were obviously not responding to the owner. Soon enough the woner came strolling along not having bothered to put the dogs on a leash. He made some Joe about having dogs that don't listen but I was not amused. Owners like this are lazy and careless and make walking and hiking less enjoyable for others. We continued on the woods road amd at about .7 miles into the hike the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. These roads were also completely clear of snow except for two small patches where the plows had heaped the snow. We continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. Many of the campsites have a cement block fireplace with a grill but some were upgraded to poured concrete. Everything was very quiet except for the water in the river. This was not surprising as the campsites were closed. I stopped and took some pictures of the roads and campsites. We also saw swarms of insects flying low to the ground and what looked like anthills. Further along there was the remains of a large tree that had been felled and sectioNed. I couldn't resist a few more pictures.

We walked along the paved road to a bathroom where we continued straight ahead to the last campsite. Where the road ends and we walked down to the edge of the river. I was careful to watch where I was walking as the water level was higher than it had been since the spring. I got pictures from different locations, angles and zooms. I stopped to take some pictures of the river especially downstream. Sheena who had been panting since almost the start of the hike got a drink from the river. I walked back up to my pack and stowed the camera. We walked back on the campsite road toward the last bathroom. Where the road split, there was a gathering of picnic tables where we stayed to the left to walk the parallel section of road back through the campsites. I did stop to take some shots of the tables which would be dispersed to campsites once the campgrounds opened. The road parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. We continued along the woods road to the maintenance building and stayed right to walk back on the woods road we had come out on. On the way back we did not see than man and his dogs. We did meet a family group of six people walking out and we said "Hello". We followed the road back to the bridge and climbed the small hill before walking through the bridge> We turned right to head back to the parking area. We went back to the car where Sheena and Cindy got in. I was going to go down to the river's edge to take some pictures of the bridge but there were some fishermen gathered there. I decided I had many other pictures of the bridge and put my camera away. We had finished hiking at 1:15 PM after hiking over 2 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes with about 15 minutes of stopped time for pictures. The car's thermometer read 71 degrees and the skies were still blue and sunny.

On Wednesday, April 8th I planned to get on a longer hike somewhere away from Livingston Manor. I had full ambulance coverage from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and planned to get an early start. An overnight ambulance call cut into my sleep so I awoke in a little later than I had planned. When I got up at 9:00 AM the temperature was 36 degrees but with sunny blue skies. I decided to go to the Neversink Unique Area to hike the loop including Denton Falls and Mullet Brook Falls. I knew Cindy did not want to go but Sheena was showing she wanted to hike somewhere. I began to get ready at 10:30 AM. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top and with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of insulated hiking pants which seemed to have no maker's label attached. The pants fit well and seemed to have just the right insulation. For boots I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and seemed to be living up to their claims. I have recently bought several brands of socks and put on a pair of OTC socks from The Buffalo Wool Company. These socks are a mixture of Merino wool and bison fiber. They have a cushioned lower and a slighty thinner upper. I put on my Baerskin fleece hoody which is a bit warmer than my Mammut hoody. I grabbed a pair of Leki Micro Vario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I chose a light hat to cover my ears and a light pair of gloves. I remembered to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters to repel any mud we might encounter. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheena in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 10:40 AM as I drove east on the Quickway towards Rock Hill. I drove to Rock Hill and got off at exit 109. I turned right off the exit and drove to the parking area at the end of Katrina Falls Road. There were two vehicles parked in the lot. I parked the car and began to get ready by setting my GPS. While I was doing this, Sheena was hanging over the back seat ready to go. Sheena loves to hike and would go out everyday if she could. The temperature at the trailhead was 38 degrees. I was glad I had chosen the Mammut hoody instead of the heavier Baerskin. The wide woods road was surprisingly dry but I knew this probably would not continue as there had some rain lately. The numerous rolling rocks on the road were making walking annoying. I could hear Wolf Brook babbling as we walked down the trail which parallels the brook. We looked up to see a man and his son walking up the trail. I indicated to Sheena she should walk off trail and sit. She obeyed and I said "Hello" to the hollers. After they passed, we got back on the trail briefly when the other half of the family appeared. I again got Sheena off trail and let the Mom and daughter pass. At .5 miles we came to a yellow spur trail on the right side of the main trail. A sign indicated that this trail led to Hackeldam on the Neversink River. This was the area where a "swinging bridge" crossed the Neversink and was an important area of commerce and industry. I thought we might visit there in the way back.

We turned left and walked down to the small bridge that crosses Wolf Brook. The bridge continues to deteriorate and is now only half as long as it once was. The stream now covered the trail from side to side beyond the bridge although the water was not very deep. I stopped to take some picture of the bridge and of the brook. The brook was flowing with a high volume which made it sound interesting as well as adding to its visual appeal. After I completed my pictures, we made our way across the bridge. I used some stepping stones to get over to the left side of the rail and then followed a trail that hikers shad created. I had to use some pieces of wood to get across another brand of the brook. Sheena just waded through the water! At the top of the hill we came to the split in the trails with the red trail going left and the blue trail heading right. There was a sign at the junction showing that the red trail to the left was the Mullet Brook Trail Loop and the Wolf Brook Access. There was a concern that people were getting lost in the Neversink Gorge due to the lack of signs and this is a welcome addition. Mileages had been posted and the sign indicated that the blue trail to the right went to Denton Falls. We stayed to the right on the blue trail which needed some trimming as the laurel was growing into the trail. The trail rolled up and down a little until we reached another yellow spur trail on the right that was labeled Old River Way. We continued straight ahead on the main blue trail. As we approached the bridge across Mullet Brook, a young man walked up from the brook to the trail. He turned left and headed back the way we came. I looked to the right to see if I wanted to take pictures but decided against it. We walked the main trail uphill to the bridge. The bridge had been replaced a few years ago after it had almost fallen into the brook. We continued across the bridge and up the hill. The next yellow spur trail on the right led down to Denton Falls and Sheena turned right and I followed her down the trail. I wanted to go to Denton Falls to see a falls on the Neversink as I expected the volume of water would be high. As we had walked along the trail to this point, I could look down to the river and saw rapids and whitecaps along the entire length.

The trail up top was relatively dry as it worked its way through the laurel. We broke out of the brush and tried to find the trail. It was disappointing that the markers were still few and far between. The missing markers cause hikers to make their own paths which makes the best path unclear. When we came to the steeper section of the trail that descends to the river the markers all but disappeared but I followed Sheena WO always seems to know the location of the trail. I followed Sheena as she followed the track down to the marked trail and then turned left to parallel the river. There are always some muddy spots on this section but there were not many on this occasion and many were partly frozen. Hikers had been widening the trail to avoid the mud but this made the muddier areas even bigger! When we got to the rocks "steps" that go down to the river, I was very careful to work my way over the roots and the rocks. At the bottom of the path, we walked out on the rocks and over to a large boulder where I dropped my pack and got out the camera. The water was very high and was rapidly flowing over the rock. I took some pictures upstream and downstream with a nice blue sky, sunshine, and some white clouds. I found a way to get downstream but I was careful with my footing as I had fallen on the slippery rocks more than ince. I got to a point below the falls with good footing and was surprised at how much water was going over the falls. I took pictures of the falls from several different angles and zooms. I also took shots downstream and upstream. Sheena was walking out on the exposed rocks and playing in the water. I decided I wanted some shots from the side of the falls and started back the way I came. I took some pictures from the side of the falls. I had Sheena pose for a few shots with the river, sky, and clouds in the background. We walked back up the rocks to my pack where I stowed the camera and got a drink and a bar.

We started back up the trail and I found climbing up easier than coming down. Sheena decided to start to do some zoomies. She does not seem to care about the mud and runs through it with abandon. We continued to work our way up the bank out of the gorge. Several times I thought I was going the right way but Sheena was going another. In every case Sheena was correct! At the main blue trail, we turned right and after a shirt distance we ran into another trail junction. The blue trail continues to the right and parallels the river heading toward High Falls. The red trail turns left and heads over the hill back toward the parking area. There was a sign indicating the purpose of the red trail but none for the blue trail. I thought about going to High Falls but adding another 4 miles seemed a little too much for me. We turned left on the red trail to start the loop and to visit Mullet Brook Falls. At this point I opened all the zippers on my hoody as the temperature was rising and the hiking was making me warmer. We climbed the hill and then turned left on the yellow spur trail to Mullet Brook Falls. We arrived at the falls and found no one else there. The falls had a high volume of water that was crashing down onto the rocks below and into the plunge pool. I put my pack down and got out the camera. I headed up the rocks toward the right side of the falls. When I got to a good viewpoint, I started taking pictures of the falls from different zooms. The light proved to be almost perfect so I took quite a few shots. I decided I wanted to get in front of the falls to take some more pictures. I tried crossing over in front of the falls but found that the mist from the falls had frozen on the rocks making them extremely slippery. I walked back down the rocks and crossed a small part of the stream before walking across the rocks. I found the place I wanted directly in front of the falls and took a number of shots with different settings and zooms. While I was doing this, Sheena waited patiently for me. I again asked Sheena to pose and she walked to a rock and sat down. After taking some shots of Sheena, I took some shots of the stream below the falls. When I was done, we worked our way back to my pack. I got a drink and we headed back out the yellow trail toward the main red trail.

We turned left on the red trail and headed uphill which usually tires me out but felt okay on this day. For a half mile we walked uphill gaining 250 feet. We were soon at the upper bridge across Mullet Brook. The bridge was in good shape. I didn't really want to take anymore pictures so we continued on the trail. We came to the spur trail that leads to a parking area in the Wolf Brook Multiple Use Area where we turned left to stay on the red trail passing by the trail leading out to the Wolf Lake parking area. The rest of the hike was downhill except for the hill back up to the parking area. For the next .85 miles we lost 400 feet. There were no blowdowns across the trail and there were no areas where there brush encroaching on the trail. The trail was dry until we finished the descent and then there were huge puddles in the low-lying areas. We were soon back at the junction with the blue trail. We turned right and walked down the hill to cross the bridge over Wolf Brook. We turned right to follow the trail up the hill to the parking area. As we started to hike up the hill, I looked up to see two hikers headed down the trail. We said "Hello" and continued in our respective directions. When I let Sheena go, she was off like a shot up the trail toward the parking area. We continued on the trail. The steepest section of the trail was less than 10% but I was a little tired by this time. Sheena headed up the trail toward the parking area and I followed. We were back at the car at 2:15 PM after hiking 4.8 miles in 3 hours. This included the stops to take pictures. We gained about 965 feet in elevation. The temperature was 44 degrees as we left the parking lot.

On Tuesday, April 7th, I really wanted to go for a hike but the weather forecast was for snow and rain showers with overcast skies and temperatures only in the high 30s! I had not yet hiked in April and thought this would be a good day to start as I had full ambulance coverage for the day. I knew Sheena would be excited as it had been a week since our last walk because of the weather, numerous ambulance calls and church commitments. There was enough snow to cover the ground in the morning but it quickly melted. I did some work around the house and then decided OT was time to make a decision. I decided to hike the Parksville Rail Trail as we could turn around at any time it Sheena was too cold. As we began to get ready at 11:45 AM the temperature on the back porch was was 38 degrees but the skies were still overcast. I assumed most of the snow would be gone but I planned to take my spikes anyway. Sheena loves warm places and has a short coat but also seems to really like the snow. The Parksville Rail Trail is under three miles out and back but keeping a quick pace helps increase the difficulty as does the snow and ice. Sheena actually does get in about twice the mileage that I do as she forges ahead and then comes back! I have transitioned from using a leash all the time to using a GarmimSport PRO electronic collar which has many versatile settings and seems to do the job. This allows Sheena to roam and keeps me sane by not having to yank on her leash. It seems that Sheena likes hiking as she smells my clothes and then runs to sit by the door or wanders around my study watching me get dressed! On this day she could hardly contain herself! I got dressed in my Mammut crew shirt with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of insulated hiking pants which seemed to have no maker's label attached. The pants fit well and seemed to have just the right insulation. For boots I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and seemed to be living up to their claims. I have recently bought several brands of socks and put on a pair of OTC socks from The Buffalo Wool Company. These socks are a mixture of Merino wool and bison fiber. They have a cushioned lower and a slighty thinner upper. I put on my Baerskin fleece hoody which is a bit warmer than my Mammut hoody. I grabbed a pair of Leki Micro Vario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I chose a light hat to cover my ears and a light pair of gloves. I remembered to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters to repel any mud we might encounter. I decided to take my pack as I could carry my camera and it added a little difficulty to an otherwise easy trail. As we walked out to the car just after noon, the sky was still overcast. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheena in the back seat and left Livingston Manor at 12:05 PM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville and turned left under the Quickway overpass onto Service Road. I drove toward Parksville and pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road just after Fox Mountain Rd. There were no cars parked in the lot when we arrived. I got out of the car and checked the trail to find the trail was completely clear of snow and ice. I made sure Sheena's ecollar was adjusted correctly and let her out of the car. When I opened the car door, Sheena came out like a shot and headed for the trail. We started on our hike at 12:17 PM with the temperature at 36 degrees. There were a few flakes in the air and the wind was blowing at a stiff 20 mph.

The trail was bare and only slightly damp at the beginning but I wondered what it would look like in the shade of the trees. It was a pleasure to be able to walk without worrying about getting a good place to plant your feet. Off her leash Sheena runs ahead of us a certain distance and then maintains that distance by waiting or increasing her pace. On this day she seemed to be very interested in the many game trails that had been under the snow. We were soon under the cover of the trees and the trail remand completely devoid of snow and ice. The usual spots ahd some standing water and mud but for the most part they were easy to avoid cross. Sheena was enjoying the freedom of the hike and the various game tracks. She did not seem cold as she had on some previous hikes. I was happy I wore the Baerskin hoody as it is warm and blocks the wind well. The trail runs parallel to the Little Beaverkill and the new section of State Route 17. It follows the route of the O&W railroad and is very flat. Sheena was setting a quick pace and I didn't mind as long as she would listen and wait for me when necessary. The wind was perpendicular to the trail and I didn't notice it much except in the more open spaces. The biggest change in the trail conditions from my previous hikes was the mud pits that had opened up and the standing water on parts of the trail. This continued for much of the hike. I noticed that the noise from the stream was a roar and several views showed the water was high and running rapidly. We came to the viewpoint just before the wooden walkways which has a nice view down to the stream. I took a peek and did not notice anything much different than the last trip. We walked across the wooden walkways which were still slippery even without a ridge of ice. The area before the bridge had running water and more water was passing under the bridge. There was a large patche of mud after the bridge.

We came to the landslide that had brought down several trees that had been cut and cleared. This area also had open water and a lot of mud. We negotiated this area and continued toward the falls. As we approached the falls there was a a significant increase in noise from the stream. The falls came into view at 12:37 PM after only 20 minutes of hiking. The water level was about the same as out last trip but there was no snow or ice around the area of the falls. We continued onward to the Parksville end of the trail. The remainder of the walk to the other end of the trail went quickly. Sheena took the lead which she sometimes is reluctant to do as there are sometimes dogs at the end of the trail. The large dog across the stream was absent. As we approached the end of the trail, the dogs that are usually outside barking were nowhere to be found! We tagged the end of the trail at 12:27 PM meaning it had taken us only 27 minutes to hike. We turned around to head back to the car. It seemed the temperature had stayed the same and that the wind was still blowing. We walked quickly back toward the car with Sheena in the lead continuing to wander off trail. Sheena seemed fine and was not favoring any of her paws because of the cold. Within 7 minutes we passed by the falls and continued to push the pace. We soon came to the bridge and the walkways, where we carefully walked over the slippery surface. As we approached the end of the trail, Sheena decided to let off some more energy by executing a set of zoomies. I eventually called her and told her "With" which is the equivalent of "Heel". We arrived back at the car at 1:09 PM after hiking 3 miles in 52 minutes! The return trip was fatser than the trip out by two minutes. The temperature was still 37 degrees and the wind was still blowing but the sun was beginning to show through. Sheena seemed fresh and I felt she could have hiked out and back on the trail another time. When we returned home, there had been an ambulance call which the crew covered.

On Monday, March 30th I had coverage for ambulance calls from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. I planned to get out for a hike somewhere that I had not been in some time. I decided I wanted to take Sheena and go to the area around Trout Pond. This is an area I have hiked many times but I had not been there in some time. As usual I got some extra sleep in the morning and got up at 9:00 AM. I had a text from my EMT that said she would not be available until 11:00 AM but that coincided with the forecast for temperatures in the high 50's. I started to get ready at 10:45 AM with the temperatures at 56 degrees on the back porch. Sheena is a Feist-Cur cross which are actual types of dogs used on farms and for hunting in the south. She loves to get out and hike. Even though she is only not quite 2 years old she is very strong for a small dog. I am glad that I have transitioned to an ecollar and that Sheena has learned basic commands very quickly. On this day Sheena was hanging out near me so that I would not forget to take her. I got dressed in my Mammut crew shirt with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of insulated hiking pants which seemed to have no maker's label attached. The pants fit well and seemed to have just the right insulation. For boots I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and seemed to be living up to their claims. The only problem with these insoles is that they are high volume which leaves less room for my feet! I have recently bought several brands of socks and decided to wear a light pair of socks from EcoSox which are knit from bamboo fiber. These socks are warm enough but thin and very soft. I put on my Mammut hoody which has a lot of zippers to dump heat when needed. I grabbed a pair of Leki Micro Vario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I chose a light hat to cover my ears and a light pair of gloves. I decided to put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to repel any water or mud that might be on the trail. I put my gear in the back of the car and left Livingston Manor at 11:00 AM.

I drove north on the Quickway towards Roscoe and got off at exit 94 heading north on Route 206 towards Downsville. After crossing the Rockland Flats and passing the Roscoe Nursing Home, I turned left on Morton Hill Road and drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. There were no cars sitting in the "lot" at the intersection of the two roads. People see the open space and park there without thinking about the fact that the land is private. I did not want to have to walk back up Russell Brook Road at the end of the hike so I decided to drive down the road to park in the lower lot. I knew that the road might be muddy and soft and that there could be blowdowns. There was one blowodwn that someone had cut and the road surface was firm. I parked by the small pulloff above the upper falls as I could see there was a lot of water and the lighting was perfect. I retrieved my camera from the pack and opened the doer for Sheena to get our. For some reasons, Sheena refused to get out so I closed the door and walked down the steep bank to a viewpoint above the falls. I took a number of pictures with different zooms and angles. I moved to another spot and took some more shots. When I finished, I returned to the car and stowed the camera. I drove down to the lower parking lot and parked the car in the lot where two other cars were parked. A group of four people were gathered around one of the cars and they soon got in and left. Russell Brook Falls is popular as a falls and swimming area and people also like to camp at Trout Pond. It was very early in the season and it was a weekday so I was not surprised that there were so few people. My intention was to visit the falls on the way out as the lighting was best that way. I had brought my GPS unit even though we had done the hike before as I wanted to see how long and how fast we would go. We started our hike by turning on the electronic collar on Sheena and the remote in my pocket. When I let Sheena out of the car she started running around the parking area sniffing everything in sight. At 11L40 AM we started our hike by walking down the woods road toward the bridge across Russell Brook. The road was mostly dry with a few damp spots.

As we crossed the bridge, we ran into a patch of ice which was easily avoided. I could see that the water in the brook was high and there were small rapids in several places. The Japanese knotweed was knocked down and all brown although some was encroaching on the trail. I used to cut back the knotweed but it is the responsibility of the DEC and they seldom bother. I stopped to take a few shots of the knotweed to contrast the condition now with what it looks like in full bloom. The history of this area is very interesting. Russell Brook Falls had been the site of a dam that impounded water for a waterwheel in Butternut Grove. The wheel was still there a few years ago. The area near the register box was the "landing zone" for loggers who cleared the evergreen trees, not for tanning but, for the production of wood alcohol. The trees were transported on narrow gauge railway that ran parallel to Russell Brook. The railway met the mainline O&W near Butternut Grove where the logs were unloaded. There were several acid factories in the area that produced wood alcohol. There was also a factory on the lower part of Russell Brook that produced khaki dye for the uniforms of American troops during World War I. We continued on the trail to the first junction where we turned right. When we came to the path to the falls we turned right and walked toward the falls. Someone had beaten the knotweed back along this path. We walked to the spot where the path descends to the streambed. We walked down to the bottom and to the streambed. I was glad there were no people present. The falls had as much water as I have seen flowing over them and the lighting was great. I put down my pack and got out my camera and took some pictures of the falls at different angles and zooms. I also took shots of the stream. I remembered how Sheila would pose in front of the falls while I took pictures of her. I got Sheena to pose by the falls and took a few shots. She is getting very good at posing and staying until I call her. I looked up at the cliffs that surround the falls and realized that two hikers were on the upper trail looking down at the falls! I returned to my pack and put away the camera. We walked back up to the path that runs out to the main trail. I had some time constraints and decided not to go up to the top of the falls.

At the main trail we turned right and followed the main trail passed the register box and up the trail toward Trout Pond. Sheena had headed to the left but was quick to see where I was headed and raced ahead of me. The trail was wet but not really muddy. All of the small streams that cross the trail were flowing freely. I did notice that several blowdowns had been cut and cleared from the trail using a chainsaw. These trails are maintained by the DEC and the frequency that they are maintained is spotty and usually occurs once in the spring. We continued on the trail uphill toward Trout Pond. I wasn't consciously pushing the pace but the walk seemed to go very quickly as we passed the path to the first primitive campsite on the left. My breathing and heartrate were up but it felt good. Sheena was leading the way but keeping a consistent distance ahead of me. She did come back to visit several times! I could hear the outlet stream from Trout Pond amd it indicated a high volume of water. Sheena was ahead of me on the trail with an occasional trip off trail. Giving her the command "Trail" brought here right back. When she is on the trail, she picks a certain distance ahead of me and maintains that distance by waiting for me or speeding up. Soon we were at the outlet end of the pond and we walked to the beach which had a narrow band of exposed sand. I put my pack down to get out my camera and while I was doing that I heard splashing as Sheena was doing some wading in the water which still had a skim of ice!. The skies were blue with wispy white clouds. The sun was shining but would not interfere with photography as it was behind me. Water was pouring over the spillway which still had some ice. There were also several patches of snow where the winds had caused drifts during the winter. I made sure to get shots of the pond and the blue sky with the clouds. I also some of the beach and the spillway. I remembered times when I was there with Sheila and she would swim to retrieve sticks or wade to cool off. Sheena posed at the edge of the pond and I took some pictures. I packed up and we returned to the main trail to walk the flat woods road toward the inlet end of the pond.

This trail is always wet but on this day the water was easy to avoid. I kept looking back to see if the other hikers had followed us but we never saw them again. Sheena kept walking over to the edge of the water looking like she might jump in again. A duck or two skimmed the water and I thought that would be the signal for her to get wet but she retsrained herself. The small stream just before the trail junction near the leanto was flowing but the volume was less than I would have expected. When we came to the bridge, I stopped to take a few pictures of the pond from the bridge. The inlet stream was flowing nicely and the sun sparkled on the surface. Sheena was doing zoomies around the trails and paths. I got her to sit still long enough that I could take some pictures of her on the bridge. At the start of the hike I questioned whether I would feel like continuing around the pond as there is a pretty good climb. I was feeling great and decided to continue. We crossed the bridge and stayed to the right on the Mud Pond Trail which would take us over Cherry Ridge and form a loop back to the parking area. The trail was relatively dry but very rocky as we started to ascend the hill. As we continued up the trail, I slowed a little as the grade increased. I had not been hiking many hills much lately and I felt it. We began to run into places where branches, small trees, and large trees had been cut and removed from the trail. These trails are maintained by the DEC but I was not sure when the work had been done. There were also a few new blowdowns that had not been cleared from the high winds that had blown through the area in the passed few weeks.

From the bridge at the inlet we climbed 430 feet over the next .75 miles. The trail headed west from the inlet until turning sharply south at around 2 miles. The highest point on the trail was at 2.2 miles after which most of the rest of the hike is downhill. I was not surprised that I was getting tired on the climb but I still felt great. As we started down the other side, there were more and more place where there was standing or running water on and across the trails. I was able to avoid the water in most of these areas but Sheena simply walked through it. These conditions continued for the rest of the trip. We ascended a the hill to the stand of small birch trees and then descended the other side. At 3.4 miles we had descended 420 feet from Cherry Ridge to the snowmobile trail near Mud Pond. I could see that the trail was damp so we stayed on the woods road. I considered walking over to Mud Pond but I was a little later than I wanted. We ascended a small hill before starting downhill back toward the parking area. As usual this section had some running water across it and some running down the trail. This part of the trail is exceptionally rocky making the descent tricky. Even though I was being careful there were times I was very glad I had the poles! The small stream near the bottom of the hill was flowing but was easily crossed. We passed the large campsite on the left and came to the bridge over the outlet stream For Trout Pond. All told, we had dropped 380 feet over the .7 miles back to the bridge. I crossed the bridge over the outlet stream which had a good volume of water flowing. The light was so nice I decided to stop and take a few shots. When I was done, we continued to the main Trout Pond Trail where we turned right. We continued on the trail passing the knotweed. We crossed the bridge and walked up the trail to the parking area. I had been thinking about calling the Stamford DEC to report the blowdowns. I was surprised but happy to see a ranger at his truck on the other side of the gate. I said "Hello" and explained what I had seen. He got out a pad and took down the information and promised to relay it to the Operations Division. I thnaked him and we walked back to the car. We were back at the car at 2:30 PM and had hiked 4.7 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with an elevation gain of 925 feet. We had stopped 25 minutes for pictures. My moving speed was just under 2 mph but I was satisfied because of the rolling terrain. There were now no cars in the lot and we had met no other hikers on the trail.

On Thursday, March 26th, I was ready to get out and hike for the second time this week. I had ambulance coverage from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM and thought about getting out by 8:00 AM for a longer hike somewhere close. Several call overnight changed that thought and I finally got up at 9:00 AM. I was till tired but the forecast was for sun and warm temperatures until late afternoon when there might be showers. I started to get ready at 10:30 AM when the temperature was 56 on the back porch. As I started gathering my equipment and getting dressed, Sheena was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I got dressed in my Mammut crew shirt with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of insulated hiking pants which seemed to have no maker's label attached. The pants fit well and seemed to have just the right insulation. For boots I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and seemed to be living up to their claims. The only problem with these insoles is that they are high volume which leaves less room for my feet! I have recently bought several brands of socks and put on a pair of OTC socks from The Buffalo Wool Company. These socks are a mixture of Merino wool and bison fiber. They have a cushioned lower and a slighty thinner upper. I put on my Mammut hoody which has a lot of zippers to dump heat when needed. I grabbed a pair of Leki Micro Vario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I chose a light hat to cover my ears and a light pair of gloves. I meant to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters to repel any snow or mud but somehow forgot them! I decided to take my pack as I could carry my camera and it added a little difficulty to an otherwise easy trail. I also thought ther might be good photographic opportunities. I put the ecollar on Sheena and turned it on. This time I remembered the controller in my pocket. I got our gear and Sheena in my car and left Livingston Manor at 11:00 AM.

I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, there were no cars parked in eother lot. I pulled into the smaller lot and parked. The skies were completely bright and blue and there were a few clouds. I set my GPS unit and we started out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at the register. The trail was very wet with standing and running water everywhere. The base of the trail was also soft and muddy. It was relatively easy to avoid the mud by picking my steps carefully. Sheena just walked straight ahead on the trail ignoring the mud and the water. At Gravestone Junction, we passed by the memorial stone for two young children from the Lobbdell family who died when their cabin caught fire in the 1930's. We turned right on the Logger's Loop Trail to do a counterclockwise loop heading toward Times Square. I noted the new signs marking the trail junction with full information and the correct mileage. It wasn't long before we came to the primitive campsites to the left of the trail and two blowdowns blocking the trail. These two trees have been across the trail for months and no one has addressed them. When individual maintainers were working on the trails they would have been gone in less than a week! The NYNJTC decided to eliminate individual maintainers and trail supervisors in favor of roving trail crews. The result in this area has not been good. After a flurry of activity, it is obvious that the crew had not returned to maintain the area. This is a shame as the former maintainers always tried to keep the loop around Frick Pond in good shape as so many people are introduced to hiking on these trails. Hikers had made paths around the blowdowns or had simply stepped over them. The rest of the trail was largely clear but it was wet and muddy in spots. The walk to Times Square is mostly downhill which we enjoyed. Sheena was out ahead following her nose and venturing if the trail in places. A whistle or a "Not too far' bring her right back to me every time. Just before Times Square, a small stream crossed the trail. The stream is usually dry but on this day it was freely flowing with some small rills. I stopped to take some pictures of the stream in both directions.

We continued on the trail and at Times Square we continued straight ahead on the Logger's Loop which was very wet and muddy. There are many surface springs and runoff from the melting snow had headed downhill to Times Square. We started a slight uphill climb on the trail but the hiking was relatively easy. The trail flattened and we came to the small, seasonal "pond" on the right side of the trail. The pond was as full as I have ever seen it and I could here the sound of peepers. I worked my way to the other side of the pond on the trail and put down my pack. I took pictures of the trail with some snow and then turned my attentions to the larger pond. I walked into the woods and found a good viewpoint. I took some host to record the appearance of the Lind when full as in Te summer it is often a field of ferns. We continued on the trail and I noted several large plastic culverts along the way. The DEC has started a project to replace the metal culverts and to install culverts were they were needed but did not exist. That project began at least six years ago but was not completed and the black culverts stand out like a sore thumb. The rest of the Loggers Loop to Iron Wheel Junction had wide and deep ponds spanning the trail. There were also large mud pits. We came to a large culvert that directs a substantial stream underneath the trail and there was a large volume of water in the stream. We continued on the trail and it wasn't long before we were walking downhill and the climbing a small hill to Iron Wheel Junction. We stopped at the trail junction so I could take some pictures of the wheels that give the junction its name. Sheena posed for some pictures before we turned left and headed back toward Frick Pond on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail is slightly downhill which allowed us to keep up a good pace. The only drawback was that there were many wet and muddy places that slowed us slightly! When we came to the small stream in the woods, we found the water level very high. There was a lot of snow in the woods and covering the trail. In some areas the snow was 6 inches deep! I took some pictures of the area before I crossed including some of the small waterfall upstream. I turned my attention to crossing the stream. Sheena simply jumped over the stream with no problem. I decided to use the stepping stone which were partly submerged. This proved to be a good move and only the soles of my shoes got wet.

We walked through the snow on the other side and the through the "spruce tunnel" where it was damp. Eventually we walked out the other side where the trail was again very wet and muddy. We came to two more blowdowns blocking the trail. It had been there so long that hikers had created detours around them! We continued on the trail and arrived at the junction with the Big Rock Trail where we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. We headed toward the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. The trail was covered in snow as the show from the pond drifts to this side of the pond. We continued on the Quick Lake Trail to the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond where there was a great deal of snow. We crossed the bridge and stopped at the other side. There were some ducks on the pond and I wanted to get pictures. Sheena was very quiet and did not bark or approach the water. I dropped my pack to get out the camera despite the fact that I have taken hundreds of pictures from this location. I immediately took pictures of the ducks as they swam away from us. The skies were blue and there was sun even though earlier there was some overcast.I also took shots of the pond and of Beech Mountain. I had Sheena pose on the bridge and made sure I took pictures of her and the snow. I packed up and we continued up the hill and back toward Gravestone Junction. At the top of the hill we saw a young woman with her dog on a a leesh coming toward us. I guided Sheena off the trail as they approached. As she passed we exchanged greetings and compliments on each other's dogs. Sheena was straining to get on the trail and head in the opposite direction of the other dog! This section of trail was also wet with mud. At Gravestone Junction we continued out the Quick Lake Trail and back to the car. We arrived at the car at 1:23 PM having hiked 3.8 miles in 2 hours and 5 minutes with an elevation gain of 350 feet. Our time stopped was 15 minutes most of which was time spent taking pictures. Our moving speed was 2.1 MPH. The temperature had risen to 65 degress which was higher than the forecast.

On Tuesday, March 24th I had coverage for ambulance calls from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM for the first time in a long time. I wanted to get out for a hike of at least 6 miles with some interesting points along the way. I thought about Trout Pond and Russell Brook Falls but did not know whether the road would be icy or not. I decided to go to the Frick Pond area and hike up the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond. At that point I could choose to complete the long loop back to Frick Pond, return by way of the Flynn Trail, or several other variations. When I got up in the morning I had a text from Lisa Lyons asking if I would like to hike on Round Top. I told her my plans and we agreed to meet at my house and take one car to Frick Pond. I don't like to do this as it then binds us together to do the same hike but taking one care seemed more economical. I began to bet ready at 11:30 AM with the temperature at 44 degrees on the back porch and plenty of sun and blue skies. Sheena loves warm places and and although she does't mind the snow I knew the warmer weather would be more to her liking. Sheena actually does get in about twice the mileage that I do as she forges ahead and then comes back! I have transitioned from using a leash all the time to using a GarmimSport PRO electronic collar which has many versatile settings and seems to do the job. This allows Sheena to roam and keeps me sane by not having to yank on her leash. It seems that Sheena likes hiking as she smells my clothes and then runs to sit by the door or wanders around my study watching me get dressed! On this day she could hardly contain herself! I got dressed in my Mammut crew shirt with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of insulated hiking pants which seemed to have no maker's label attached. The pants fit well and seemed to have just the right insulation. For boots I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and seemed to be living up to their claims. The only problem with these insoles is that they are high volume which leaves less room for my feet! I have recently bought several brands of socks and put on a pair of OTC socks from The Buffalo Wool Company. These socks are a mixture of Merino wool and bison fiber. They have a cushioned lower and a slighty thinner upper. I put on my Mammut hoody which has a lot of zippers to dump heat when needed. I grabbed a pair of Leki Micro Vario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I chose a light hat to cover my ears and a light pair of gloves. I remembered to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters to repel any snow or mud. I decided to take my pack as I could carry my camera and it added a little difficulty to an otherwise easy trail. I also thought ther might be good photographic opportunities.

I put my gear in the car and Sheena in the back seat and wait fro Lisa to arrive. She drove into the driveway just before noon. We put her gear in the back and I drove out the Debruce Road about 6 miles. I turned left onto Mongaup Pond Road and continued to where the road split. At the split, I turned left onto Beech Mountain Road, and drove to the parking areas at the Frick Pond. There was one car in each lot as I pulled into the smaller area. The thermometer read 42 degrees as I set my GPS but the sun was out and it seemed warmer. At 12:20 PM we started our hike by crossing the road to start out on the Flynn Trail. Lisa let me know that I had said we were going to Frick Pond and that she had an important phone call at 3:00 PM. I told he I thought we could make it to Hodge and back in that time. I felt I was making a concession as I had planned to hike 3 to 4 hours! The erosion at the beginning of the trail gets worse each time it rains but I do not know how to fix the problem. The trail to the woods road toward Hodge Pond was slightly damp with a few small patches of snow. We continued along the trail beginning our conversation that soul last for the entire hike. We turned right at the end of the trail and started up the road. We passed the large spruce where Cindy and I had cut a tunnel. The DEC crew had been through and removed the tree. I was winded as we started to gain elevation as I had not been hiking very far and almost flat. I hoped I would get more accustomed as the hike continued. Talking to Lisa and listening made the hike go quickly as we continued toward Hodge Pond. At 1 miles we passed by the path to the clearing to the right of the trail. I thought about taking the detour but decided our time constraints made this a plan for another day. We descended a little bit and then began a gentle climb to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The slope of the trail moderates some in this area and I noticed my breathing was better. We reached the trail junction at 1:12 PM after hiking 1.7 miles in 55 minutes. This was by mo means a record but I thought it was good for the shape I was in.

We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail instead of turning left on the Big Rock Trail or right on snowmobile trail. I had been a little tired climbing the Flynn Trail but was rejuvenated as the trail flattened out. We passed through the gate that separates state land from land owned by the Beaverkill Land Trust. When the trail split we stayed left to follow the Flynn Trail down to Hidge Pond. Almost immediately we came to a large patch of snow covering the rail. There did not seem to be an reason why there was so much snow in this area but there was. We walked over it and continued down to the pond. As we came to the spot where there the trail breaks out into the field at the outlet end of Hodge, there was a huge patch of snow. The snow blows off of the pond and collects in large drifts and this is what remained. As we came to the snow, we noticed a couple and there three dogs in the field. None of the dogs were on leashes and they seemed to be doing as they please ignoring their owners' commands. I put Sheena on her leash as one of the dogs came straight toward us. There is nothing quite like the feeling of a strange dog approaching. The owners were calling the dog which pais no attention. I used my poles to try to steer the dog away to no avail. Sheena did not seem to be bothered but I was annoyed by the lack of courtesy showed by the owners. They finaaly were able to get a hold on their dog's collar and we passed by each other. They mumbled a greeting which Lisa answer but I felt it best to remain silent! I walked with Sheena to the shore of the pond and got out my camera. It was 1:30 PM and we had hiked 2.4 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes. The pond was slowly expanding in size as the beavers continued to build their dam. I took shot of the entire pond and some of the area that the beavers had empounded. Sheena sat near the shore and I took some shots.

I grabbed all my gear and walked back to where Lisa was near the dam. I took pictures of the entire pond from here and then took shots of the dam. As I was taking pictures, I saw a man coming down the Flynn Trail in the opposite direction. He made his way to us on the flooded trail. Sheena followed my command to sit and stay. I spoke to the man who indicated he had hiked in the area before and really enjoyed it. We parted ways and I put the camera in my pack and we started back up the hill at 1:35 PM to retrace our steps to the car. The walk back up the hill often seems tedious but on this day it seemed to go quickly. Sheena as always was running uphill and the back to us many times. She we came to the top of the hill we stayed to the right to take the Flynn Trail. We passed through the gate again and then arrived at the junction with the big Rock Trail. It had been my intention to turn right to extend the hike but we contend straight ahead so that Lisa could get back for her important phone call. We set a fast pace as the Flynn Trail is primarily a descent on the way back. We did not stop at all and came passed through the gate and then continued straight ahead at the trail junction. From there we walked downhill on the wide woods road. We turned left on the trail just before the gate at the start of the road that was once the way t get to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. We followed the Flynn Trail to the parking area amd were back at the car at 2:40 PM after hiking 5.0 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes. The elevation gain was 810 feet. As we left the parking area, the temperature was 48 degrees.

On Friday, March 20th, I really wanted to go for a hike as the weather forecast was for some sun and temperatures into the high 40's! I also wanted to start of spring the right way as winter had been largely a bust for hiking. I knew Sheena would be excited as it had been over 10 days since our last walk because of the weather and numerous ambulance calls. I knew I had ambulance coverage at least for a few hours. At 10:30 AM I asked Cindy if she wanted o hike at Frick Pond and she thought that was too far for her without knowing the route. I asked if she would like to hike the Parksville Rail Trail and she agreed. As we began to get ready the temperature on the back porch was was 38 degrees but the skies were still overcast. I assumed most of the snow would be gone but I planned to take my spikes anyway. Sheena loves warm places and has a short coat but also seems to really like the snow. The Parksville Rail Trail is under three miles out and back but keeping a quick pace helps increase the difficulty as does the snow and ice. Sheena actually does get in about twice the mileage that I do as she forges ahead and then comes back! I have transitioned from using a leash all the time to using a GarmimSport PRO electronic collar which has many versatile settings and seems to do the job. This allows Sheena to roam and keeps me sane by not having to yank on her leash. It seems that Sheena likes hiking as she smells my clothes and then runs to sit by the door or wanders around my study watching me get dressed! On this day she could hardly contain herself! I got dressed in my Mammut crew shirt with a long-sleeved baselayer. I put on a pair of insulated hiking pants which seemed to have no maker's label attached. The pants fit well and seemed to have just the right insulation. For boots I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which fit well. I added a new pair of Xstance insoles in an effort to find the best support and cushioning for my feet. These insoles have shock absorbing gel pads, TPU arch support, and memory foam cushioning all wrapped in a breathable fabric. The insoles have been hyped by their manufacturer and seemed to be living up to their claims. I have recently bought several brands of socks and put on a pair of OTC socks from The Buffalo Wool Company. These socks are a mixture of Merino wool and bison fiber. They have a cushioned lower and a slighty thinner upper. I put on my Mammut hoody which has a lot of zippers to dump heat when needed. I grabbed a pair of Leki Micro Vario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I chose a light hat to cover my ears and a light pair of gloves. I remembered to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters to repel any snow or mud. I decided to take my pack as I could carry my camera and it added a little difficulty to an otherwise easy trail. I also thought ther might be good photographic opportunities. As we walked out to the car, the sky was sill overcast but there was some blue and the sun was peaking through. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheena in the back seat and left Livingston Manor at 10:50 AM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville and turned left under the Quickway overpass onto Service Road. I drove toward Parksville and pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road just after Fox Mountain Rd. There were no cars parked in the lot when we arrived but as we were getting ready a truck pulled in. It was a Town of Liberty employee who was picking up garbage.I got out of the car and checked the trail to find the trail was largely clear of snow and ice. I made sure Sheena's ecollar was adjusted correctly and let her out of the car. When I opened the car door, Sheena came out like a shot and headed for the trail. We started on our hike at 11:10 AM with the temperature still at 38 degrees and the skies unchanged.

The trail was bare with only a few patches of snow and it was a pleasure to be able to walk without worrying about getting a good place to plant your feet. Off her leash Sheena runs ahead of us a certain distance and then maintains that distance by waiting or increasing her pace. On this day she seemed to be very interested in the many game trails that had been under the snow. We were soon under the cover of the trees and the trail changed completely! Now it was covered from side to side with several inches of ice. The sides of the trail were bare in places and covered in snow in others. I considered donning my spikes but did not. Cindy had not brought her spikes with her and I thought she might ask to use mine but she never mentioned it. Sheena was enjoying the freedom of the hike and the various game tracks. She did not seem cold as she had on some previous hikes. I was happy I wore the Mammut hoody as I almost immediately began to feel warm and opened the front zipper and pit zips. The trail runs parallel to the Little Beaverkill and the new section of State Route 17. It follows the route of the O&W railroad and is very flat. Sheena was setting a quick pace and I didn't mind as long as she would listen and wait for us when necessary. The biggest change in the trail conditions was the mud pits that had opened up and the standing water on parts of the trail. This continued for much of the hike. I noticed that the noise from the stream was a roar and several views showed the water was high and running rapidly. We continued walking on the trail trying to negotiate the slippery and uneven surface. We came to the viewpoint just before the wooden walkways. This spot has a nice view down to the stream and I stopped to take a peek. I got out my camera and took pictures of the stream which was now open with no ice or snow but a decent water level. I also took a few shots of the trail to show the conditions. Cindy had started over the wooden walkway so I took a picture of her carefully picking her way across. I put the camera away and we walked across the wooden walkways which still had a thick ridge of ice. The area before the bridge had running water and more water was passing under the bridge. There were large patches of ice before, on, and after the bridge. There was also a large area of mud that after the bridge.

We came to the landslide that had brought down several trees that had been cut and cleared. This area also had open water and a lot of mud. As we approached the falls there was a a significant increase in noise from the stream. The falls came into view. I looked at the path down to the stream bed. I really wanted to get down there to take pictures so I walked off the trail and began the decent on the path. The upper part still had some snow and I was able to dig my feet in. When I got to the lower third, the trail was mostly ice. The smart choice was to turn around and take pictures from above so I decided to continue down to the streambed. As I was descending I heard Cindy call out and Sheena headed back up the trail. I was in the middle of an icy patch so I just called Sheena and she returned. I had carefully worked my way down through the snow and ice but Sheena came roaring down without a problem. She is very sure-footed and has long nails for extra traction. I was able to negotiate the ice and make it down to a spot where I could take pictures. I dropped my pack and got out my camera. I took pictures of the entire falls and rapids. I took shots downstream. I finished by taking pictures of the falls and the rapids at different angles and zooms. Sheena jumped up on a rock and sat down which I assumed she was posing for pictures. I took some shots and then put away my camera. I worked my way back up the path with less trouble than I expected. I met Cindy at the picnic table. She told me she had called out because another hiker had come by with a golden retriever and she was worried about Sheena's reaction. I took some more pictures from above the falls. I had to be careful as the entire area was covered in ice.

As we got ready to leave to walk the rest of the trail, we saw the man and his dog coming back toward us. I put Sheena on her leash and we passed by each other with no problem. The other hiker commented at the difficulty of hiking on the icy surafce and we both agreed! The remainder of the walk to the other end of the trail went quickly. Sheena took the lead which she sometimes is reluctant to do as there are sometimes dogs at the end of the trail. The large dog across the stream was absent. As we approached the end of the trail, the dogs that are usually outside barking were nowhere to be found! We tagged the end of the trail at 12:10 PM meaning it had taken us an hour to hike and for me to take pictures. We turned around to head back to the car. It seemed the temperature had increased a few more degrees which means the ice had started to melt forming a thin layer of water on top of the ice making it even more slippery. We walked carefully back toward the car with Sheena in the lead continuing to wander off trail. I placed my pole with some force to et a good bite in the ice. Sheena seemed fine and was not favoring any of her paws because of the cold. Within 10 minutes we passed by the falls and continued to push the pace which was slowed by the slippery ice. We soon came to the bridge and the walkways, where we carefully walked over the slippery surface. As we approached the end of the trail, I called Sheena and told her "With" which is the equivalent of "Heel". We arrived back at the car at 12:50 PM after hiking 3 miles in an hour and 40 minutes. The temperature was 48 degrees or 10 degrees higher than at the start. Sheena seemed fresh and I felt she could have hiked out and back on the trail another time.When we returned home, there had been no ambulance calls.