What You Missed
Summer 2026
Summer 2026
On Wednesday, August 5th, I wanted to get in a hike after many days of ambulance calls. I wanted to visit at least one falls as the rain at the beginning of the week had swelled all the local streams. Ambulance calls had picked up and were keeping me busy but I had coverage from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. As often happens we ran three ambulance calls overnight all in other districts! I got back home at 7:00 AM and laid down to get some sleep. I woke up at 11:30 AM and decided to go to the Parksville Rail Trail because it has a falls, is close to home, and would fit into the time I had remaining for ambulance coverage. I knew the Little Beaverkill might still be high from the torrential thunderstorns that flooded Livingston Manor last week. I started getting ready at 12:15 PM with the temperature at 74 degrees on the back porch. As I was getting dressed, Sheena sniffed my clothes to confirm we were going to hike and began to run around the house barking. I got dressed in my Columbia Omnishade long-sleeved shirt which really does seem to be cooler than others. 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 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 decided to wear my OR BugOut gaiters as a defense against the ticks that are looking for a warm home and a meal! I put the ecollar on Sheena and turned it on. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheena in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 12:30 PM with the sky was partly blue and partly overcast with plenty of sunlight and some clouds. There was also a slight breeze which made it feel comfortable despite the high humidity. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville and just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road. There were two cars parked in the lot. We started out on the trail at 12:40 PM with the temperature at 78 degrees.
The first part of the trail was wet in some places and just damp in others. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees the temperature did not change much as there was no breeze but no direct sunlight. The trail was about as I expected with some very wet areas and mud in all the usual spots. There was standing water in a few spots but no running water across the rail. The rail 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. The water level in the stream was lower than the previous week as the runoff from the storms had stopped and there had been no significant rain since. The water was rolling down the stream but was much clearer of mud and debris. As we continued to hike, we passed several benches placed for people to rest. As I was walking I suddenly heard "On you right" from five feet behind me. A man on a bicycle had come up behind us and did not use an audible signal and waited until the last minute to announce is presence. Fortunately Sheena is not bothered by bikes and also got out of the way. We continued our hike and as we approached the walkway I could see the man with the bicycle stopped by the bench. He seemed to be taking a picture of the bench and recording a narrative. We did not stop at this area but crossed the wooden walkways and bridge. The long walkway was only a little slippery and was almost dry. I knew that the work the Town of Liberty crews had done on the bridge and some spots on the trail had held up under the deluge of rain from the storms. We came to the bridge and found that the work done to prevent erosion worked perfectly. The water coming down the stream was reduced since our previous visit and it fell over the large boulders that had been placed and was directed through the culvert. The culvert under the bridge was clear and allowing water to drain downhill. The large boulders now held back the dirt and stones that often wash down the hillside to block the flow of water through the culvert. The crushed stone on either side of the bridge held and remained in place. In a very short distance we came to the area where a large mudslide had brought trees and dirt down onto the trail. This area had been cleared and crusher run added to replace the mud. The area was well drained with no mud or standing water. The grass from the hay that had been spread was very green and holding the soil together to prevent a mudslide. As we continued I noted the other places where they had done work and all of it seemed to be holding up well. The man on the bicycle passed us again without a signal or a word.
We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked toward the falls, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. We looked up to see some people at the falls. They were looking at the falls and I was not sure which way they were headed. The man on the bicycle was stopped at the falls. I told Sheena "With" and we passed by the people and the falls at 1:02 PM. We set a quick pace passing a few more people at the bench. The other people turned around and followed us toward Parksville. I did not stop at the bench but I noticed the water level was lower as the rock layers underneath could be seen. We continued our hike through some areas of mud but all the standing water that had been on the trail was gone. We outdistanced the other hikers pretty quickly. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail. The large dog across the stream was missing. The man on the bicycle rode past us again and I hoped that would be the last time we would see him. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. The pack of barking dogs that always greets us was not there and here was no loud music. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. It was 1:08 PM when we headed back toward the car. We set what I thought was a faster pace on the way back. The group of people we had met came walking toward us and we passed by with a smile and a "Hello". We came to the falls and we passed them to continue our hike at 1:14 PM. We passed the mudslide and the bridges and kept a good pace. Somewhere in this area Sheena decided she needed to let off a little more energy and started to do some very rapid zoomies! I looked up and saw three people coming toward us. I continued along the trail with Sheena and acknowledged the other hikers as we passed them. I told Sheena "Up Trail" and she took off. As we neared the end of the wooded part of trail, I gave Sheena the "With" command and she fell in behind me. We were back at the car at 1:34 PM having walked the whole hike in 54 minutes! The temperature at the car was 78 degrees and the humidity was oppresive.
On Friday, July 31st I wanted to get out for a longer hike as I had ambulance coverage from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. There were no ambulance calls overnight but I decided to get some sleep to make up for the last few nights. 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 10:45 AM with the temperature at 78 degrees and Sheena watching my every move. I decided to hike the Parksville Rail Trail from Parksville toward Livingston Manor. The forecast called for blue skies with some clouds but no rain. 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. At the last minute, I added my OR floppy hat for shade and as a base of insect repellent. I put the ecollar on Sheena and turned it on. At 11:05 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 put Sheena on her leash for the short road walk to the beginning of the trail.
We started out at 11:15 AM with the temperature right at 80 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. After the second debris field we ran into some very large puddles on the trail from one side to the other. They weren't very deep so I walked around some and through others. Sheena chose the through route every time. 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. Someone had been at work with a deck mower or brush hog and had flatten all the grass and errant bushes. They had also hot several bags of garbage spreading it far and wide. 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 11:45 AM and it had only taken us 30 minutes to hike the 1.3 miles. We turned left and walked toward the buildings.
The main building and one out building had been torn down and all that remained was two piles of rubble. A stainless steel sink used to wash be apples and a machine to turn the apples into pulp for pressing had been saved. I decided I would only take pictures of the falls and not the rumble! 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 and walked to the stream just behind the building and I got my first look at the falls. They had not changed much but the water level was very high from the torrential rains earlier in the week. There was a falls right in front and one visible farther upstream and 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 niceview of all of the falls. I took pictures using different zooms to focus on each art of the scene. 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. Hiking alone and descending the steep and slippery banks is a little scary! I took more pictures and then worked my way up the bank to the main trail. There are several areas where there is laid up stone which made me think there had been mills along the stream at some point. 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. I walked along the edge of the pond to a stone wall. I climbed on top of the wall and took some shots of the falls and some pictures downstream toward the dam. The light was almost prefect! We continued to walk along the stream until I found a good viewpoint right in front of the falls. I had to experiment with zoom and angles and settings to get some shots. I took some shots and of the lower falls and a few of the upper. The walk up the bank was inteeresting as the soil was wet and slippery from the rain. We continued uphill 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. This falls ahad more water going over it than I has ever seen before. We turned around at 12:25 PM 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 hitting it at 12:35 PM. I noted that it had taken 40 minutes to hike up to the top of all the falls and only 10 minutes to walk back down! I thought about hiking out to Old Liberty Road to lengthen the hike but in the end turned right to go back to the car. 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 byt decided to wait and reward myself with a drink at the gas station by the trailhead. Sheena had gotten some water from the various stream along the way. We were back at the car at 1:15 PM having hiked over around 3.5 miles in 2 hours with plenty of stopped time for photography. 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 Thursday, July 30th, I wanted to get in a hike despite the unsettled forecast calling for showers. I wanted to visit at least one falls as the rain at the beginning of the week had swelled all the local streams. Ambulance calls had picked up and were keeping me busy but I had coverage from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM PM. As luck would have it a call came in before 8:30 AM and I responded. The call was somewhat difficult and tiring. When I got home, I decided I needed to get out and Sheena agreed! I decided to AGAIN go to Parksville and hike the rail trail. I knew the Little Beaverkill would still be high from the torrential thunderstorns that flooded Livingston Manor. I started getting ready at 10:45 AM with the temperature at 64 degrees on the back porch. As I was getting dressed, Sheena sniffed my clothes to confirm we were going to hike and began to run around the house barking. I got dressed in my Columbia Omnishade long-sleeved shirt which really does seem to be cooler than others. 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 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 Makalu Lite poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I decided to wear my OR BugOut gaiters as a defense against the ticks that are looking for a warm home and a meal! I put the ecollar on Sheena and turned it on. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheena in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 11:05 AM with a temperature of 68 degrees on the back porch. The sky was partly blue and partly overcast with plenty of sunlight and some clouds. There was also a slight breeze which made it feel comfortable despite the humidity. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville and just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road. There were no cars parked in the lot. We started out on the trail at 11:12 AM.
The first part of the trail was wet in some places and just damp in others. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees the temperature did not change much as there was no breeze but no direct sunlight. The trail was about as I expected with some very wet areas and mud in all the usual spots. There was standing water in a few spots and even some running water across the rail coming off of the Route 17 bypass. The rail 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. The water level in the stream was as high as I have seen it even during the spring thaw! The water was rolling down the stream and was still muddy from eroding the stream banks. As we continued to hike, we passed several benches placed for people to rest. I did not stopped at the area just before the wooden walkways and bridge even though the view has grown in. I was able to get some good shots through the trees of the creek below. When I was done, we walked across the long walkway which was slippery from being wet and from some algae growing on it. I was anxious to see how the work the Town of Liberty crews had done on the bridge and some spots on the trail held up under the deluge of rain from the storms. to the had dried out and was not at all slippery. We came to the bridge and found that the work done to prevent erosion worked perfectly. The water coming down the stream was significant but it fell over the large boulders that had been placed and was directed through the culvert. The culvert under the bridge was clear and allowing water to drain downhill. The large boulders now held back the dirt and stones that often wash down the hillside to block the flow of water through the culvert. The crushed stone on either side of the bridge held and remained in place. In a very short distance we came to the area where a large mudslide had brought trees and dirt down onto the trail. This area had been cleared and crusher run added to replace the mud. The area was well drained with no mud or standing water. The grass from the hay that had been spread was very green and holding the soil together to prevent a mudslide. As we continued I noted the other places where they had done work and all of it seemed to be holding up well. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked toward the falls, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. We looked up to see some people at the falls who had walked in from the other trialhead in Parksville. They were looking at the falls and I was not sure which way they were headed. I told Sheena "With" and she stayed by me as we turned left and started down the path to the base of the falls at 11:37 AM. The other people turned around and headed back to Parksville.
I was careful to watch my footing down the path as there had been some erosion. I could see that the water was very high but had been higher at the peak of the Storm. I kept Sheena behind me and cautioned her to be careful. We finally reached the base of the path and I put my pack down to get out the camera. I took pictures downstrean and to the stone wall across the stream. I then turned my attention to the falls and the rapids below. I took a wide view and then narrowed my zoom to various areas of the scene. I even tried some settings to get the soft feel that many people like but I wondered how "soft" that amount of water could look. I had Sheena hop up on her rock and I took some shots of her with the water in the background. We climbed back up the path to the picnic table where I again got out my camera and took some shots of the falls and the rapids upstrean. I returned my camera to the pack and we started toward the Parksville trailhead at 11:47 AM. I was a little surprised that we were only at the falls for 10 minutes! I did stop at the bench and walked down a little path to take some shots of the rapids above the falls. We continued our hike through plenty of standing water and some mud. I looked up to see a couple walking toward us. The man had a large camera with a nice lens. We said "hello" as we passed. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail. The large dog across the stream was missing. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. The pack of barking dogs that always greets us was not there and here was no loud music. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. It was 11:53 AM when we headed back toward the car. We set what I thought was a faster pace on the way back. The couple we had passed were stopped at one of the interpretive signs near the falls and we passed them to continue our hike at 12:03 PM. We passed the mudslide and the bridges and kept a good pace. Somewhere in this area Sheena decided she needed to let off a little Moe energy and started to do some very rapid zoomies! I looked up and saw three people and a dog on a leash coming toward us I took Sheena to the side of the trail and told her to sit. The group passed us with Sheena motionless until I told her "Up Trail". As we neared the end of the wooded part of trail, I gave Sheena the "With" command and she fell in behind me. We were back at the car at 12:23 PM having walked the whole hike in 1 hour and 11 minutes! The temperature at the car was 71 degrees.
On Thursday, July 23rd I had arranged to have two corps members cover calls for the day so that I could take a longer hike with my grandson Bryce on my birthday. As luck would have BOTH members let me know they could not fulfill their commitment! Fortunately, two other members stepped up to cover calls from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. At 8:30 AM a call came in and they had it covered before the pager stopped sounding. At 9:00 AM Bryce arrived and I started to think about hiking with the temperature at 68 degrees on the back porch. The forecast was for a beautiful day with no rain in sight and plenty of sun so I thought we might go to Frick Pond to hike the big loop around Hodge and Frick Ponds. I began to get ready to hike knowing we needed to get going to prevent having to rush through the hike. As I began to get ready, Sheena was ready to go and stayed close to me to make sure she was going along. I got dressed in my Columbia Omnishade long-sleeved crew top without a baselayer. I put on a pair of RailRiders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles which I hoped would mean I did not need gaiters. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots which I ordered a half size larger than the previous pair. These shoes fit well out of the box but get much tighter when I add a decent insole. Without the third party insole, my feet hurt from the lack of support. 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 they really do seem to deliver. I decided to take my Leki MicroVario poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did put on my OR BugOut gaiters to combat the ticks that I knew would be out there. I also made sure I had water and some bars as I had not yet eaten anything. I also checked that I had my camera and GPS. I left my phone home as I did not want to be bothered. We put my pack and poles in the car and Sheena in the back seat. I headed out the DeBruce Road at 10:00 AM. After six miles I turned left on Mongaup Road. Where the road split I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the parking lots. There were two cars in the smaller parking lot as I pulled in to park between them. My plan was to walk up the Flynn Trail to the junction with the Big Rock Trail and then continue on the Flynn Trail to Hodge Pond. From Hodge Pond we would follow the Flynn Trail to the end at Junkyard Junction. Here we would pick up the Quick Lake Trail and follow it back to the car. I set my GPS unit before we crossed the road and picked up the Flynn Trail. Bryce agreed to carry my pack and I thought that a fine idea!
At the end of the trail through the woods, we turned right on the woods road that was once the extension of Beech Mountain Road. The trail was damp in spots but was in good condition. It is a long climb toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail but it seemed to me we were moving very quickly and I was feeling full of energy. Having Bryce carry the pack was very helpful. Being able to talk to Bryce always makes the hike seem shorter! Sheena ran up the bank a short distance before coming back. I noticed that Sheena was a little farther ahead of us than on some hikes. She was ranging about 50 feet ahead and then coming back and going about 10 feet behind. I noticed she was very interested in the chipmunks and squirrels along the trail as well as the occasional bird. Sheena is a Feist which is a southern hunting dog and it shows in the way she hikes. At one point we looked up and a couple was hiking toward us. We said "Hello" and I noticed the amn had a baby carrier on his back with a very content child. At about 1.2 miles we came to the point where I sometimes turn off the trail to visit an interesting clearing. I decided to bypass this area as I wanted to keep moving and complete the big loop. We continued on the main trail toward the trail junction passing several blowdowns that had come down over the last week in the heavy winds. Our walk to the Big Rock Junction went quickly and we arrived after hiking 1.7 miles in about 50 minutes. We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail encountering some branches on the trail. We passed the gate that separates the state land from land owned by the Beaverkill Land Trust. The Trust allows hiking and responsible use of the trails and land. At the next trail junction, we stayed to the left to follow the Flynn Trail down to Hodge Pond. As we walked out to the field at the outlet end of Hodge Pond and into the sun, I noticed the apparent increase in temperature.
We walked down the rest of the Flynn Trail and came to the outlet of Hodge Pond. The level of the pond was higher than I had ever seen it and the outlet area was flooded! The flooding spread over the Flynn Trail and into parts of the clearing at the outlet end of the pond. The beavers had been at work and had blocked the culvert at the outlet end of the pond and built a dam. I wondered if we could negotiate a path through the mess or if we would have to take the jeep trail around the other end of the pond. We walked over to the shore and I took a few pictures. The sky was blue with puffy white clouds to increase the contrast with the rest of the sky. Sheena got a drink and waded through some water but showed no desire to swim. After a few minutes, we walked back to the Flynn Trail and I took some pictures of the work the beavers had done before we carefully picked our way through the flooded ground. We followed the Flynn Trail along the west side of the pond. The trail was wet and muddy in places but these were mostly easy to avoid. At the next trail junction we stayed to the left to take the Flynn Trail up the hill rather than the jeep road around the back of the Hodge Pond. Sheena easily jump over a tree across the trail while I struggled to clear it. The trail up to the gate was relatively dry. The rest of the trail was wet and muddy most of the way to Junkyard Junction. We went slowly as we tried to find the best way through the water and the mud. There were several blowdowns which provided an extra challenge. It was 12:05 PM and we had hiked 3.4 miles which is a little more than halfway through the hike in 1 hour and 45 minutes. We turned left to start the hike back and a faster pace as we were going downhill. The trail conditions were relatively good with only a little water and mud. The trail initially rolls some but eventually descends toward Iron Wheel Junction. On this day it seemed the trail was rockier than usual amd I kept rolling my ankles. We turned right at Iron Wheel Junction after hiking 5 miles. I decided no to stop at the junction as I already had many pictures.
The turn allowed us to stay on the Quick Lake Trail heading for Frick Pond. The trail conditions included both water and mud but we were getting used to this and it was not as bad as I have seen it! Eventually, we came to and crossed the small stream through the woods with no difficulty using the stepping stones someone had added. The level of the stream was much lower than I had expected given the rains that had fallen over the last few days. I decided not to stop to take pictures as I was tired and wanted to press on. We walked through the spruce tunnel which was almost dry and out the other side. There were no blowdowns to slow our progress. After leaving the shelter of the trees, the trail was wet and muddy in most places but in much better shape than usual. We passed by the junction with the Big Rock Trail on the left and were soon at the bridge over the Frick Pond outlet. Bryce dropped my pack and got out the camera. I have taken hundreds of pictures form the bridge but can't resist stopping to take a few more. The beavers had rebuilt the lower dam that someone had ripped out and the water level was higher than before! The lodge entrance was underwater which made it usable again. I hope that whoever feels they can rip out the dam with machinery will leave nature alone. After I took some picture, we walked up the hill from Frick Pond to Gravestone Junction. The memorial stone was still in place and had not been moved. We continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. The trail was wet for almost the entire way back to the car with a few muddy places. We passed by the register and walked the woods road back to the parking area. The two cars that had been parked next to me were gone and two more more had parked. The larger parking areas was still empty. We were back at the car at 1:48 PM having hiked 6.4 miles in 3 hours and 30 minutes with a vertical gain of 870 feet. The temperature was still 68 degrees and it had been a glorious hike. Sheena immediately curled up in the back seat. It was the first time I felt she was done for the day!
On Thursday, July 16th, I wanted to get in a longer hike than I had been doing recently. There had been some rain and numerous ambulance calls. I had coverage for ambulance calls from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM so we could hike for up to 4 hours without guilt. As often happens an ambulance call woke me up in the middle of the night. I did get back to sleep but then was off again at 7:45 AM on another call. When I got home after 9:30 AM it was 68 degrees on the back porch with a haze of smoke hanging low from the wildfires in Canada. I was tired and making excuses for taking a shorter hike. I wanted to get out and hike to some elevation to keep the fitness level I had built up. I decided to head to the Frick Pond area and hike the Flynn Trail toward Beech Mountain where there are several good viewpoints. I was hoping that the smoky haze would provide some unusual photographic opportunities. I started to get ready at 9:45 AM. Sheena was pretty excited as I started to get ready as getting out to hike is her favorite thing. I got dressed in my Columbia Omnishade long-sleeved shirt which really does seem to be cooler than others. 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 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 Makalu Lite poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I decided to wear my OR BugOut gaiters as a defense against the ticks that are looking for a warm home and a meal! I put the ecollar on Sheena and turned it on. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheena in the back seat and left my house at 10:10 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road and turned left. I continued up the road to the point where it splits and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road. It was a short drive to the parking areas on the left. There were no cars in either parking area. I parked in the smaller lot and got out. I could immediately smell and see the smoke in the air! I was surprised it was so noticeable and wondered if I was making the right choice to hike under these conditions. I decided I could always turn back. I set my GPS even though I had hiked this area extensively. I like a record of what I do on each hike. I made sure Sheena's ecollar was turned on and I let her out of the car. She immediately began to run around following her nose. We crossed the road at 10:35 AM to begin our hike on the Flynn Trail with the temperature at 72 degrees.
The first part of the trail near the road had become further eroded by the recent rains but people had walked around the gully forming a new trail. The walk through the woods was relatively easy and the trail was only damp. My mind told me that I should be tired but my legs wanted to move. When we came to the end of the trail, we turned right onto what once was Beech Mountain Road. This area of the trail was also barely damp without any heavy dew on the grass. I wondered if the rest of the trail would be the same. Starting out my whole body was tired but the further we hiked the better I felt. I set a relaxed pace up the Flynn Trail as I was in no hurry. Sheena was about 20 feet ahead of me all the time. Every time I slowed down she did also to keep the same distance. She usually ventures off the trail following a game trail or chasing a squirrel and today was no exeption. Whenever she got too far ahead I gave the command "Not too far" and she would come right back to me. We did not stop along the way but continued toward the junction with the Big Rock Trail. The Flynn Trail is uphill all the way for the first 1.7 miles to the Big Rock Junction. We passed the mile mark around the point where there is a clearing to the right of the trail. I thought about visiting the clearing but knew this hike would already be the longest I had taken in some time. We were soon walking the final uphill section to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It was 11:25 AM so we had covered the 1.7 mile distance in 50 minutes which was a good time. We continued through the junction and passed through the gate which is the boundary between state land and Beaverkill Land Trust property. It was a short walk to the point where the Flynn Trail heads left and downhill to Hodge Pond. Here we turned to the right on the woods road and walked along the road to the junction of some roads above the pond. At this junction a road turns left to go down to the pond. Just a little further on the road splits with the left fork passing by the site of the former Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp and ending up on Shin Creek Road in Lew Beach. The camp has been bulldozed by the Land Trust because the building were in ruins and collapsing. The road out to Shin Creek Road is now available for hiking and has a nice parking area near Shin Creek Road. We continued up the hill toward the Hodge Pond Lookouts on a woods road that surrounds Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain, the highest point in Sullivan County. As we walked, I could see that there had not been any vehicles on the road recently as there were no new tracks. I had noticed that I was a little tired walking up the Flynn Trail but felt more energized walking up the road. There had been some work done of the road creating runoffs so that water would run into the woods preventing further erosion.
I wasn't really tired so we pushed the pace a little more. The sun was out and there was a slight breeze blowing making the conditions ideal for hiking. When we got to the old sand and gravel pit where the trail levels the sun hit me full force and I realized how warm it really was. The trail began to gain elevation again and we passed by a spring house on the right where Sheila used to like to dig in the water and get a drink. Sheena also got a drink but the amount of water was very small. The spring house used to be a solid structure but now appeared unattained and in a shambles! There are several twists and turns along this road and it is sometimes hard for me to know exactly where I am. At 2.7 miles we came to what was once a lookout on the left of the trail. The lookout has grown in so that there is no view. We did not stop but continued on the road as it made a sharp right turn. Just after this the road turned to the left and another trail branched off to the right. We followed the road to the left as it gained some elevation then started downhill. We passed a woods road on the right and then the path on the left toward Mongaup Mountain, one of the Catskill Highest Hundred. The road turned to the right and soon led to a cabin with a beautiful lawn. The lawn usually has an incredible view to the east with many of the 3500 foot peaks visible. The panorama from this lookout takes in the Burroughs Range and many of the other Catskill peaks. Unfortunately, on this day all I could see was a cloud of smoke. As I walked around I caught a glimpse of some of the mountains through the trees. Even on a clear day the trees have begun to grow up and are starting to limit the view. I got out my camera and took some pictures of the trees in the foreground and the smoke in the background. When we were done, I got a drink and cupped my hands to give Sheena one. We then continued on the woods road. Sheena was impatient as she always wants to be in motion and she easily found the woods road and head out ahead of me. We climbed a short hill to the woods road that surrounds Beech Mountain and turned left. We followed the woods road clockwise around Beech Mountain. There are some impressive ledges on the right of the trail going in this direction. I wanted to take some pictures but it was hard to get an angle. We came across a blowdown that had been cut by chainsaw. We walked passed the blowdown and arrived at the Hodge Pond Lookout.
I dropped my pack and took out my camera. The conditions here were better than on the other side of the hill but Hodge Pond was largely obscured by the smoke. I walked out to the lookout to take pictures. I took some pictures of the pond below through the smoke. The hills in the distance were completely blocked. When I was done taking pictures, I had Sheena sit on the viewpoint while I took some shots with the pond and the smoke in the background. I got another drink and gave some to Sheena. We continued on the woods road traveling clockwise around Beech Mountain. The trail was only damp in several places and the rest was dry. We were back at the road and turned left to start downhill. We definitely picked up the pace as I knew the rest of the trip back was all flat or downhill. The trip down was much quicker than the trip up. When we reached the bottom of the hill, it was 12:50 PM so I decided to continue straight ahead and return on the Flynn Trail to make sure I was home by 2:00 PM. I was lost in my own thoughts as we descended the trail. It was much easier going down than up and our pace increased. Sheena was still full of energy and was off trail more than on it. At points she was wading through ferns that were still taller than her. Sheena's solution was to bounce through ferns so her head was above the tops of the ferns. As we approached the gate at the end of the woods road, Sheena stopped to wait for me and followed behind as we continued on the Flynn Trail through the woods. We were soon back at the car. It was 1:55 PM and we had hiked 6.5 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes gaining 1050 feet along the way. We had stopped for a total of 7 minutes. Our speed was 2.0 mph overall and 2.1 mph moving. The temperature had risen to 78 degrees and the smell of smoke was as noticeable as when we had parked.
On Wednesday, July 15th, I wanted to get in a hike despite the forecast for high heat and humidity for almost the entire day. Ambulance calls had picked up and were keeping me busy but I had coverage from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. As luck would have it several calls came in during the morning hours amd I stuck around in case a second crew was needed. by 1:30 PM things had quieted down so I decided to AGAIN go to Parksville and hike the rail trail. I knew the Little Beaverkill might still be high from the rains a few days ago. I started getting ready at 1:45 PM with the temperature at 84 degrees in the back porch. As I was getting dressed, Sheena sniffed my clothes to confirm we were going to hike. I got dressed in my Columbia Omnishade long-sleeved shirt which really does seem to be cooler than others. 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 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 Makalu Lite poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I decided to wear my OR BugOut gaiters as a defense against the ticks that are looking for a warm home and a meal! I put the ecollar on Sheena and turned it on. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheena in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 2:00 PM with a temperature of 84 degrees on the back porch. There was an overcast sky which blocked the sun and a breeze which made it feel very comfortable. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville and just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road. There were no cars parked in the lot. We started out on the trail at 2:08PM under overcast skies.
The first part of the trail was damp but was drying. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees the temperature did not chang much as there was no breeze but no direct sunlight.The trail was about as I expected some wet areas and some mud. There seemed to be less water and mud than during our last trip. The rail 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. The water level in the stream was a little lower than the last trip but NT nearly as dry as Trout Pond the day before. As we continued to hike, we passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. I did not stop at the area just before the wooden walkways and bridge as my objective was to hike as fast as we could. We walked across the long walkway which had dried out and was not at all slippery. We came to the bridge and found that the work done to prevent erosion seemed to have worked. The culvert under the bridge was clear ad allowing water to drain downhill. The large boulders now held back the dirt and stones that often wash down the hillside to block the flow of water through the culvert. The crushed stone on either side of the bridge held and remained in place. In a very short distance we came to the area where a large mudslide had brought trees and dirt down onto the trail. This area had been cleared and crusher run added to replace the mud. As we continued I noted the other places where they had done work and all of it seemed to be holding up well. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked toward the falls, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. At the falls, I took a peek and found the volume was still good. No one was cooling themselves off at the falls or lying in the sun on the rock shelves above.
I wanted to push the pace so we continued to walk without stopping. We continued on the trail toward Parksville. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail. The large dog across the stream was missing. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. The pack of barking dogs that always greets us was not there but just as we approached the end their owner cranked up his obnoxious music. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. It was 2:32 PM when we headed back toward the car. We had covered the walk out in only 24 minutes and I decided to lush hard on the way back. I knew the walk back was usually quicker. We set what I thought was a faster pace on the way back. We passed the falls and still found no people enjoying themselves below or above the falls. We continued passed the mudslide and the bridges and kept a good pace. We crossed the bridge and the wooden walkway. As we neared the end of the wooded part of trail, I gave Sheena the "With" command and she fell in behind me. We did meet two young ladies just starting out on the trail and Sheena ignored them. We were back at the car at 3:54 PM having walked the return route in 22 minutes. The whole hike took us just 46 minutes which was our best time ever! The temperature at the car was 86 degrees.
On Tuesday, July 14th I had coverage for ambulance calls from 8:30 AM to 2:30 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 often happens a call came in at 5:30 AM and I responded. The patient had to be transported to Middletown instead of Harris which means it is a 100 mile trip rather than 30 miles! I was tired when I got hoe but I knew I would feel better if I did. I was also convinced by Sheena's obvious indications that she wanted to go. I decided not to waste any time as there was a heat advisory from noon on. I started to get ready at 8:45 AM with the temperatures at 72 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. As I was getting dressed, Sheena sniffed my clothes to confirm we were going to hike. I got dressed in my Columbia Omnishade long-sleeved shirt which really does seem to be cooler than others. 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 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 Makalu Lite poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I decided to wear my OR BugOut gaiters as a defense against the ticks that are looking for a warm home and a meal! I put the ecollar on Sheena and turned it on. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheena in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 9:05 AM with a temperature of 73 degrees on the back porch.
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. A car had just pulled into the parking on the left side of Morton Hill Road. I pulled up next to him and told him the lot is private property. He seemed like a decent guy but gave the same lame excuse I have heard so many times. 'I have been doing it for years and many other people park here.' In other words, I really don't care about the rights of others as long as it is convenint for me. 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 thought about parking at the overlook for the upper falls but decided against it. I drove down to the lower parking lot and parked the car in the lot where six other cars were parked! I did not see any people so assumed they were camping or out hiking. Russell Brook Falls is popular as a falls and swimming area and people also like to camp at Trout Pond. It was early in the season and it was a weekday so I was surprised that there were so man cars. My intention was to visit the falls on the way out as the lighting was best that way. I had forgotten my GPS unit but was not concerned as I had done the hike before. 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 9:25 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, I could see that the water level in the stream was lower than I expected. The Japanese knotweed had bounced back to narrow the path encroaching on the area available for hikers. 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, it was almost impossible to see it as the knotweed almost completely obscured it. We turned right and walked toward the falls getting wet from the water on the vegetation. 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 only a trickle of water and the stream below was almost dry. There had been some localized storms but this was apparently not one of those locations. 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 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 it 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 barely damp but not really muddy at all. All of the small streams that normally cross the trail were dry. 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 heart rate 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 barely hear the outlet stream from Trout Pond indicating not much water was coming out of the pond. 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 we had to ourselves. The beach was a wide band of exposed sand and a quick glance at the other shores showed the water level was low. 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. The skies were blue but there was some general, unconsolidated cloudiness rather than nice puffy individual clouds The sun was shining but not enough to interfere with photography as it was behind me. I made sure to get shots of the pond with some zooms of the shoreline showing the water level. I also some of the beach and the spillway. The distance between the spillway and the water was a least 6 feet. I stood in the spillway and took some pictures. When I was done, 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 it was almost completely dry. I did see what looked like recent vehicle tracks along the trail! Sheena kept walking over to the edge of the water looking like she might jump in again. There were a lot of squirrels and chipmunks running around and Sheena was busy chasing them. The weeds were high and sometimes I could only tell where she was because she kept hopping up. I could see a large campsite on the other side of the pond with music and voices. The large campsite on the right of the trail was empty. The small stream just before the trail junction near the leanto was dry. I looked up and saw a small SUV parked just off the trail with no one around! I looked for handicapped markers but saw none. O wondered how one gets permission to do this. When we came to the bridge, I stopped to take a few pictures of the pond from the bridge. The inlet stream was completely dry. 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. I also took some pictures of the car. 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 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 was no water or mud in the places where there is often standing or running water. I was able to make better time than usual as I did not have to avoid the water and mud. 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 only 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. This area usually has some running water across it and some running down the trail but it too was dry. 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! I looked up at one point and saw three people headed toward us with a dog. I pulled Sheena off the trail to let them go by. I had not noticed there was another group of young hikers coming up behind us. What I did notice was that Sheena's collar with all her tags was missing! I was not sure it had been on her at the start of the hike and that annoyed me. After the two groups passed each other and use Sheena and I went back to the trail to continue. The group of young hikers we were following was moving quickly and was soon out of sight! I completely missed the small stream near the bottom of the hill as it was dry. We passed the large campsite on the left which was also empty and left me wondering where all the people were. We 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 barely had any water flowing. 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 and the car. We were back at the car at 11:55 AM and had hiked 4.6 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes with an elevation gain of 925 feet. We had stopped about 15 minutes for pictures. My moving speed was just under 2 mph but I was satisfied because of the rolling terrain. The lot had a few more cars and the temperature had risen to 80 degrees although it still felt comfortable.
On Tuesday, July 7th, I wanted to get in a hike despite the forecast for showers for almost the entire day. Ambulance calls had picked up and were keeping me busy but I had coverage from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. As luck would have it a call came in early in the morning and I did not get home until after 9:00 AM. When I got home, I decided to AGAIN go to Parksville and hike the rail trail. I knew the Little Beaverkill might be high as it had rained the last few days. As I was getting dressed, Sheena sniffed my clothes to confirm we were going to hike. I got dressed in my Columbia Omnishade long-sleeved shirt which really does seem to be cooler than others. 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 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 Makalu Lite poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I decided to wear my OR BugOut gaiters as a defense against the ticks that are looking for a warm home and a meal! I put the ecollar on Sheena and turned it on. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheena in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 10:00 AM with a temperature of 64 degrees on the back porch. This was so much cooler than the week before and felt very comfortable. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville and just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road. There were no cars parked in the lot. We started out on the trail at 10:13 AM under overcast skies with some most in the air.
The first part of the trail was wet from the rain overnight but was drying. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees the temperature did not changed much as there was no breeze and no direct sunlight.The trail was about as I expected some wet areas and some mud. There seemed to be more water and mud than during our last trip. The rail 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. The water level in the stream was exactly the same as the day before. As we continued to hike, we passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. I did not stop at the area just before the wooden walkways and bridge as our objective was to hike as fast as we could. We walked across the long walkway carefully as it was wet and very slippery. We came to the bridge and found that the work done to prevent erosion seemed to have worked. The culvert under the bridge was clear ad allowing water to drain downhill. The large boulders now held back the dirt and stones that often wash down the hillside to block the flow of water through the culvert. The crushed stone on either side of the bridge held and remained in place. In a very short distance we came to the area where a large mudslide had brought trees and dirt down onto the trail. This area had been cleared and crusher run added to replace the mud. As we continued I noted the other places where they had done work and all of it seemed to be holding up well. I looked ahead and saw a woman walking with dog on a leash. I thought she was walking toward us so I pulled Sheena off the trail near one of the benches and waited for her to pass. After a short time, I peeked out at the trail and saw no one! I concluded that woman and dog were headed toward Parksville. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked toward the falls, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. At the falls, I looked down to the base and saw the volume was much higher than on our previous visit. I was surprised that no one was cooling themselves off at the falls or lying in the sun on the rock shelves above.
We started down the path to the base of the falls. Sheena scampered down the path without a probe. I was much more careful as the rocks were wet and slippery. When we reached the stream, I took off my pack and got out my camera. The overcast skies were better for photography than bright sunlight. I took pictures of the falls and rapids from different angles and zooms. There was an impressive foam on the river just below the rapids so I grabbed some shots. I also took shots downstream where everything was so green. I was almost done but Sheena had other ideas, She ran to some rocks and sat down with the falls in the background. I took shots as she looked in different directions and changed her position. When she was done, I put the camera away, shouldered the pack, and walked back up to the mainsail. I again put down my pack and took out the camera. I took shots from above the falls and some upstream. After I was done, we continued on the trail toward Parksville. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail. The large dog across the stream only started to bark as we were almost passed and then it was half-hearted. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. The pack of barking dogs that always greets seemed to be inside and we only heard a few barks. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. It was 10:49 AM when we headed back toward the car. We had covered the walk out in 39 minutes but at least 10 minutes was consumed taking pictures. I knew the walk back was usually quicker. We set what I thought was a faster pace on the way back. We passed the falls and still found no people enjoying themselves below or above the falls. We continued passed the mudslide and the bridges and kept a good pace. We crossed the bridge and the wooden walkway. Sheena decided that the bridge was the place for zoomies! She would run straight at me and then try to stop slipping on the wet surface! She did this several times and each time I thought she would slam into me! As we neared the end of the wooded part of trail, I gave Sheena the "With" command and she fell in behind me. We were back at the car at 12:15 PM having walked the return route in 26 minutes. The whole hike took us just over an hour including time for photography. We had met no other hikers which is what I prefer. The temperature at the car was 66 degrees and a light mist was in the air.
On THursday, July 2nd, I wanted to get in a hike despite the forecast for a heat index over 100 degrees! This would be the third day in a row of hiking and although the distances were short I was feeling physically and mentally better. I had ambulance coverage from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. As luck would have it a call came in early in the morning and we were halfway there when we were canceled. This happened two more times before 10:00 AM! When I got home, I decided to again go to Parksville and hike the rail trail just to say we had hiked in the heat. I knew the Little Beaverkill would be low as it had not rained much since yesterday. As I was getting dressed, Sheena sniffed my clothes to confirm we were going to hike. I got dressed in my Columbia Omnishade long-sleeved shirt which really does seem to be cooler than others. 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 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 Makalu Lite poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I decided to wear my OR BugOut gaiters as a defense against the ticks that are looking for a warm home and a meal! I put the ecollar on Sheena and turned it on. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheena in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 12:45 PM with a temperature of 93 degrees on the back porch and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road. There were no cars parked in the lot. We started out on the trail at 11:57 AM under blue skies with lots of sun and a nice breeze blowing. The temperature was 92 degrees and the heat index was 105 with high humidity.
The first part of the trail was just damp from a shower overnight but drying quickly. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little warmer as the trees blocked the pleasant breeze. The trail was about as I expected some damp areas and some mud. There seemed to be less water and mud than during our last trip. The rail 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. The water level in the stream was exactly the same as the day before. As we continued to hike, we passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. I did not stop at the area just before the wooden walkways and bridge as our objective was to hike as fast as we could. We walked across the long walkway and then we came to the bridge. We already knew the crew had finished their work and had done a great job! They had cleared all of the debris that was blocking the culvert under the bridge. Large boulders now held back the dirt and stones that often wash down the hillside to block the flow of water through the culvert. The crew had added crushed stone on either side of the bridge to smooth the way on and off the brdige. More stone had been added to fill in the mud pit on the Parksville side. Some fencing had been added and the overall effect was very pleasing. In a very short distance we came to the area where a large mudslide had brought trees and dirt down onto the trail. This area had been partly cleared in the past but the Liberty crew had graded it and added some crusher run. They also removed much of the debris, erected some fencing, and added some hay to help grass to grow back. As we continued I noted the other places where they had done work and all of it seemed to be holding up well. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked toward the falls, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. I was surprised that no one was cooling themselves off at the falls or lying in the sun on the rock shelves above.
We passed the path down to the falls as I wanted to save time and I noticed the falls looked the same as last time. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail. The large dog across the stream was not present and I missed him. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. The pack of barking dogs that always greets us was also absent. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. It was 12:21 PM when we headed back toward the car. We had covered the walk out in 24 minutes but I knew the walk back was usually quicker. We set what I thought was a faster pace on the way back. We passed the falls an found people enjoying themselves below and above the falls. We continued passed the mudslide and the bridges and kept a good pace. We crossed the bridge and the wooden walkway. As we neared the end of the wooded part of trail, I gave Sheena the "With" command and she fell in behind me. We were back at the car at 1:45 PM having walked the return route in 24 minutes. The whole hike took us 48 minutes which I believe is our record! We had met no other hikers which is what I prefer. The temperature at the car was 91 degrees. Usually when I drive away the temperature goes down but by the time I was on the flats in read 94 degrees!
On Wednesday, July 1st, I wanted to get in a hike despite the forecast for a heat index over 100 degrees! I had ambulance coverage from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM I thought. When my crew did not respond to an early mutual aid call, I made other arrangements which kept me on call until.noon! I decided to just go to Parksville and hike the rail trail because it is under three miles out and back and I was not sure how Sheena or I would adapt to the heat and humidity. I knew the Little Beaverkill would be low as it had not rained much since our last trip. As I was getting dressed, Sheena sniffed my clothes and became very excited. I got dressed in a Mountain Hardwear ` long-sleeved shirt. 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 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 Makalu Lite poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I decided to wear my OR BugOut gaiters as a defense against the ticks that are looking for a warm home and a meal! I put the ecollar on Sheena and turned it on. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheena in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 12:45 PM and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road. There were two cars parked in the lot. We started out on the trail at 12:55 PM under blue skies with lots of sun. The temperature was 91 degrees and the heat index was 101 with high humidity.
The first part of the trail was just damp from a shower overnight but drying quickly. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler. The trail was about as I expected some damp areas and some mud. There seemed to be less water and mud than during our last trip. The rail 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. The water level in the stream was not quite as high as the last time we had hiked along the trail. As we continued to hike, we passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. I did not stop at the area just before the wooden walkways and bridge as our objective was to hike as fast as we could. We walked across the long walkway and then we came to the bridge. We already knew the crew had finished their work and had done a great job! They had cleared all of the debris that was blocking the culvert under the bridge. Large boulders now held back the dirt and stones that often wash down the hillside to block the flow of water through the culvert. The crew had added crushed stone on either side of the bridge to smooth the way on and off the brdige. More stone had been added to fill in the mud pit on the Parksville side. Some fencing had been added and the overall effect was very pleasing. In a very short distance we came to the area where a large mudslide had brought trees and dirt down onto the trail. This area had been partly cleared in the past but the Liberty crew had graded it and added some crusher run. They also removed much of the debris, erected some fencing, and added some hay to help grass to grow back. As we continued I noted the other places where they had done work and all of it seemed to be holding up well. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As I looked ahead, O could see two women sitting on a bench. As we approached I told Sheena "With" and she fell in behind me. As we passed the ladies greet me and I returned the favor. I told Sheena "Up trail" and she did just that. As we walked toward the falls, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. I could also hear voices which meant there were people enjoying the cool water.
We passed the path down to the falls as I wanted to save time and I noticed the falls looked the same as last time. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail. Many of the rundown buildings had beem removed or were being renovated. Several of the buildings showed that work had been done on them. The large dog across the stream was not present and I missed him. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. The pack of barking dogs that always greets us was also absent. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. It was 1:21 PM when we headed back toward the car. We had covered the walk out in 26 minutes but I knew the walk back was usually quicker. We set what I thought was a faster pace on the way back but that did not stop Sheena from going into full zoomie mode. She was racing ahead and then sprinting back toward me. She added some growling and attempts to bite my feet! We passed the falls, the mudslide and the bridges and continued to keep a good pace. Up ahead I could see the two women who had been sitting on the bench headed back to the parking area. We crossed the bridge and the wooden walkway. As we neared the end of the wooded part of trail, I gave Sheena the "With" command and she fell in behind me. We were back at the car at 1:45 PM having walked the return route in 24 minutes. The whole hike took us 50 minutes which was the best in some time!
On Tuesday, June 30th, I wanted to get out for a longer hike after sticking to shorter hikes on the rail trail. I covered an ambulance all early in the morning and finally returned home at 10:30 AM with the temperature at 75 degrees on the back porch. I thought I might try a shorter hike in the Frick Pond area. I intended to hike up Flynn Trail and then make a decision about the route I would take. As usual, Sheena was excited but was trying to be the "good dog". I decided to wear a Columbia Omni-Shade Omni-Wick crew shirt without a baselayer. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which are expensive but last along time and have features like deep pockets and a generous cut which I really like. The pants have Velcro closures at the ankles. I thought about warmer pants but decided against it. 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 Makalu Lite poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I put on my OR BugOut gaiters as I knew that the trails would be dry but the ticks would be out! I also decided to wear my OR floppy hat. I put my gear in the back and Sheena in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 11:40 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. Even though it was a little later on the day, the temperature was 75 degrees at the trailhead as it is usually cooler there than in town. The skies were now mostly blue with white clouds. I set my GPS as we got ready to head out on the Flynn Trail. We crossed the road and began our hike at 11:57 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 because my muscles felt tired but soon were keeping a good pace. I almost did not notice the right turn onto the woods road. We began a consistent climb at a slightly faster pace than a week ago. The path was narrow and it did not seem that many people were using the trail. 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. I began to warm up even though I only had a single layer. 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 pictures 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 but also was making some detours to chase game. Since the grass and ferns were taller than her, Sheena would periodically jump straight up to see where she was going. Sheena would take the time to come back to check on me occasionally. We descended a little and then began walking uphill. Along the way there had been several blowdowns that had not been cleared as Te NYNJTC has apparently not assigned new trail maintainers which is a shame. 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 longer hikes for another day. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail. It was 10:54 AM and we had hiked 1.7 miles uphill in an 53 minutes. This was slower than usual but I was enjoying the relaxed pace.
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 encounter huge swarms of mosquitoes that overwhelmed my repellent with sheer numbers. I quickened my pace to a near jog and we were soon at Times Square. This was my last chance to lengthen the hike and I thought about turning right to hike up and around the Logger's Loop to add some distance. 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 but this day there was barely any mud. Sheena hiked right through the water and mud that was present and was getting filthy! Sheena alerted and I saw a man coming toward us with a dog on a leash. I pulled Sheena off the trail and asked the man to pass by which he did. Sheena and I continued and soon ran into the rest of the family consisting of son, daughter and wife. We crossed the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond and I decided not to stop to take any pictures. The first of the inlet streams was almost dry and the water was not flowing. The second inlet stream had even less water. 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 as any work including repalcement are not in "The Plan".
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. Unfortunately, both dams had now been damaged with the lower one ripped out completely and the upper one reduced in size. The water level in the pond had dropped significantly making the beaver lodge unusable. There were more tracks in the dirt indicating that someone had brought in a large machine to vandalize this beautiful area! In the past, I have tried to determined who was responsible for this devastation. I have called everyone from the local ranger to the Region 3 office to the state DEC offices. Either someone has taken it upon themselves to do this or the DEC does not want to admit they have given permission. This lack of transparency is disturbing. I know that if I did something similar there would be heavy fines. Sheena and I walked up the hill and continued to Gravestone Junction. The tracks of the machinery were still very obvious and had chewed up the trail with no regard to the work done by maintainers. We passed the Lobdell Memorial marker just after Gravestone Junction. 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 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 12:02 PM having hiked 4.1 miles in 2 hours with an elevation gain of 640 feet. Our overall average speed was just under 2 MPH with a moving average of 2 MPH. The temperature had risen to 78 degrees!
On Thursday, June 25th, I wanted to get in another hike to make it three days in a row. I had ambulance coverage from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM so my I plan seemed doable. I decided to just go to Parksville and hike the rail trail even though it is under three miles out and back. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she said "Yes". The catch was that she would not be back from her Bible study until noon! I knew the Little Beaverkill would be low as it had not rained much since our last trip. I did want to see how the Town of Liberty's work on the bridge was holding up. By the time Cindy got home and we ate lunch it was 12:30 PM but I knew we still had time to just walk the trail. The temperature was right 74 degrees on the back porch with blue skies and plenty of sun. As we were getting dressed, Sheena sniffed my clothes and became very excited. I got dressed in my Columbia OmniShade long-sleeved shirt. 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 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 Makalu Lite poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I decided to wear my OR BugOut gaiters as a defense against the ticks that are looking for a warm home and a meal! I put the ecollar on Sheena and turned it on. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheena in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 12:45 AM and drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville. Just after Fox Mountain Road, I pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road. There was one car parked in the lot. We started out on the trail at 1:00 PM under blue skies with lots of sun. The temperature seemed cool but we both noticed the humidity was high.
The first part of the trail was just damp but drying quickly. We continued hiking and once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler with the breeze blowing. The trail was about as I expected some damp areas and some mud. There seemed to be less water and mud than during our last trip. Just as we were about to enter the trees a woman came walking toward us and I took Sheena to the side of the trail. As the woman walked by we exchanged greetings. The rail 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. The water level in the stream was not quite as high as the last time we had hiked along the trail. As we continued to hike, we passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. I did not stop at the area just before the wooden walkways and bridge as our objective was to hike as fast as we could. We walked across the long walkway and then we came to the bridge. We already knew the crew had finished their work and had done a great job! They had cleared all of the debris that was blocking the culvert udder the bridge. Large boulders now held back the dirt and stones that often wash down the hillside to block the flow of water through the culvert. The crew had added crushed stone on either side of the bridge to smooth the way on and off the brdige. More stone had been added to fill in the mud pit on the Parksville side. Some fencing had been added and the overall effect was very pleasing. In a very short distance we came to the area where a large mudslide had brought trees and dirt down onto the trail. This area had been partly cleared in the past but the Liberty crew had graded it and added some crusher run. They also removed much of the debris, erected some fencing, and added some hay to help grass to grow back. As we continued I noted the other places where they had done work and all of it seemed to be holding up well. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked toward the falls, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead.
We passed the path down to the falls as I wanted to save time and the falls looked the same as last time. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail. Many of the rundown buildings had beem removed or were being renovated. Several of the buildings showed that work had been done on them. The large dog across the stream was not present and I missed him. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. The pack of barking dogs that always greets us was again present and voicing their concern. The sign listed the businesses and hotels that existed in Parksville during its heyday. The Young's Gap Hotel had room for 600 guests! The sign also explained the role of the railroad in the dairy industry which was a thriving one in all of Sullivan County. It was 1:30 PM when we headed back toward the car. We had covered the walk out in 30 minutes but I knew the walk back was usually quicker. We set what I thought was a faster pace on the way back but that did not stop Sheena from going into full zoomie mode. She was racing ahead and then sprinting back toward us. She added some growling and attempts to bite our feet! We passed the mudslide and the bridges and continued to keep a good pace. We crossed the bridge and the wooden walkway. As we neared the end of the wooded part of trail, I gave Sheena the "With" command and she fell in behind me. We were back at the car at 1:30 PM having walked the return route in 30 minutes. The whole hike took us 1 hour which I judged good.
On Wednesday, June 24th I was scheduled to hike at Walnut Mountain with Lisa at 10:30 AM. Lisa wanted tot show me the work that had been done to create the Walnut Mountain House walking trail. I knew this included signs to explain the history of the Walnut Mountain House and some benches. I had thought Cindy wanted to go with me but at the last minute she decided against it. I had ambulance coverage from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM so I had plenty of time to get in a few miles. By the time I started to get ready at 9:45 AM the temperature was 74 degrees on the back porch with blue skies amd plenty of sun. As I was getting dressed, Sheena sniffed my clothes and became very excited. I got dressed in my Columbia OmniShade long-sleeved 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 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 Makalu Lite poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I decided to wear my OR BugOut gaiters as a defense against the ticks that are looking for a warm home and a meal! At 10:00 AM I left home and got on State Rt 7 east toward Liberty. I got off at exit 100, tuned right off the traffic circle and headed into town. At the next traffic circle I too the second exit to get on South Main Street and drove to the traffic light. I turned left on Lake Street and followed it until it became State Route 55. In a short distance I turned right on Walnut Mountain Road, drove to the parking area next to the baseball field and parked. There were only two other cars in the lot. One car had just parked and the couple were getting ready to hike. It was only 10:15 AM and I knew I would have to wait for Lisa. The temperature was 76 degrees with sunshine and clouds in a bright blue sky with low humidity and a slight breeze. Lisa arrived at 10:25 AM and we began to get ready to hike stepping off at 10:30 AM.
From the parking area we walked to the gate on the Mountain Overlook which is also a carriageway. The first interpretive sign is located here and ties general overview of the walking tour. From here the trail winds a little as it ascends to a junction with the West Lake West trail. Along the way was the second sign with a newly constructed bench next to it. The bench allows people to take a break if they wish. We continued to the junction with the West Lake West trail which continues straight ahead. We paused a minute before turning left. The Mountain Overlook Trail was now headed southwest as it continued its gentle climb. The third sign was cited at a junction where a trail branched off to the left. This sign pointed out the many rock ledges and had a picture of what they looked like at the turn go the 20th century! We continued straight ahead to the overlook. The view from the overlook was much open but it was a little hazy. It was easy to see down to Swam Lake and several housing developments. The sky was blue with some interesting clouds. I dropped my pack and took out my camera. I took some pictures of the lookout and then turned my attention to the view. I took numerous pictures of the landscapes and some of the sky. After I had finished, we turned around and started back the way we had come. In a short distance, at the trail junction, we stayed to the left and then the right to continue on The Walut Mountain House walking tour which followed the Mountain House Trail. On the right was another sign which pointed out the ledges which used to be wide open and afforded and even more spectacular view. We continued up the trail, which was a slightly steeper climb, until it leveled out. On the left was a large stone foundation which is all that remains of the Walnut Mountain House. It was constructed in 1887 and torn down in 1919. Other structures were built to support in but very little remains of these outbuildings. We turned left to follow a short trail around the foundation reading signs five and six. I dropped my pack and took a number of pictures fighting the bright sun for each shot. The work that has been done us very impressive and Lisa told me about the plans for more research. At this point Lisa had to get back but I had some more time so we parted way.
I had no particular route that I wanted to take and was more constrained by time than distance. I headed for one of the single track bicycle trails amd this one went up to the summit plateau of Walnut Mountain. The summit was wilder than I remembered with high grass and weeds on the trail and impressive stand on briars over the interior. We walked anticlockwise on the barely visible trail until we were on the west side where the trail was more discernable and there were some interesting rock ledges. I stopped to take some shots of the rock ledges and thought it would e nice to be below them to take some pictures from that angle. As we almost completed the loop around the top, I noticed a trail that went down and to the right. Thinking that trail might take us below the ledges, I turned right and started to loop back around the summit plateau im a clockwise direction but one level down. Soon we were looking up at the ledges where we had been looking down! I got out the camera and did the best job I could taking pictures. The problem was that the bright sunlight that made it such a nice day was not conducive to photography! When I was done, I packed up the camera and we continued to follow the single track bike trails until we were back at the site of the Walnut Mountain House. We turned left on the Mounatin House trail and followed it as it wound through several switchbacks until it ended at the Mountain Overlook Trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the junction with the Walnut Loop West Trail. We turned left and after a slight uphill the trail flattened and we passed by the Walnut Loop North trail that turned right and headed out to the West Lake parking area.
We followed the trail as it bent to the left and worked our way passed some large blowdowns across the trail. I was looking for a trail I had cleared for a cross country course. I knew it would be hard to find as it had not been used in at least 5 years and was not maintained. Soon the carriageway we were walking started to gain elevation and I knew I had missed the trail. I decided to retrace my steps to find it. I kept looking for the trail on the right just before the blowdowns. We turned right and started back up the mountain. The trail was actually in good shape until just before it ended and would require only a little maintenance. As we walked up the trail I wondered that I decided to make the course so hilly! At the top we tired right on the Sunset Trail which is mostly flat until it gains a little elevation at the end. This trail end at a junction with the Mountain House Trail and the Mountain Overlook trail. We continued straight ahead and then turned left on the Mountain Overlook trail. There was one hiker at the sign where we turned right on a connector trail and continued downhill to the lower lookout where we turned left on the Walnut Loop South Trail. We followed this passed the lower lookout where ether were new picnic table and a new bench at the edge of an open field. We continued until the trail entered the trees and started downhill passing the disc golf course. We walked by the finish line for the cross country course and then through and old red shale quarry. I look down and saw some arrows painted on the rock indicating the direction of travel for the runners. I was surprised that the painted arrow were still there after several years! We continued out through the trees to the playground and then to the car. It was 1:00PM when we finished. I estimated we had walked over 4 miles with about a 600foot elevation gain.