What You Missed
Winter 2024
Winter 2024-2025
On Tuesday, March 11th I wanted to et out for a hike as the temperature was supposed to reach 60 degrees. I knew I was the only EMT available for calls so I needed to stay close to home. This meant a rip to Round Top which is just across the street. Two overnight ambulance calls had me sleeping in late. By noon I had gotten a few hours sleep and gotten some things done around the house. At noon the temperature had risen to 65 degrees with a leasant breeze and a mix of sun and clouds. I decided to carry my phone just in case another call came in. Sheena is a Feist-Cur cross which are actual types of dogs used on farms and for hunting in the south. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top 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 put on my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat but blocks the wind. I put on a light hat but knew I would not need gloves. I decided not to take any poles as the walk would be short and I would be holding Sheena's leash. I did put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought the ticks might be out. We had hiked on Round Top a week ago and found slippery conditions with snow and a lot of ice. I knew the warm weather would probably have eliminated most of the ice and snow but I put MicroSpikes in my pockets. At 12:35 PM I put Sheena on her leash and walked out the door to start the hike. I remembered to put a harness on Sheena which prevents her from choking herself and allows me to control her pull on the leash. We headed down the driveway and toward the street. Sheena has gotten used to walking on her leash to the end of the drive. She also has become accustomed to waiting for cars to pass by and then crossing when I say "OK". This time she looked both ways and then looked at me and I said "OK" because there were no cars. She readily crossed the street and headed across the field by the church where there was no snow. Sheena was full of energy so I had to restrain her. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. There was no snow or ice and I hoped that trend would continue. Sheena gave me help up the hill by pulling on her leash. Sheena had no problem walking up the hill except for the fact that she likes to stop and sniff very frequently. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Not having poles made it more of a challenge for me especially with the snow and ice. We did stop on the way to the top of the hill and set a controlled pace. Sheena has grown bigger than we thought she would and her pull on the leash is signficant. At the top we paused briefly to look around before Sheena turned left and entered the forest trail. She was eager to enter the woods on the trail and hopped right up the steps rather than choosing to go straight ahead on the cemetery roads.
We started on the trail with Sheena setting a good pace. I was surprised that there was no snow or ice on the trail and only a few muddy spots. At the first trail junction, we continued straight up the hill with Sheena leading the way on her leash. The hill faces the sun so there was no snow or ice on the trail. Sheena was full of energy and wanted to play but I encouraged her to concentrate on hiking. We progressed up the hill without any ice or snow to slow us down. When we reached the top of the hill, we stopped for a minute at the upper lookout. After a brief pause, we followed the yellow trail as it turned right. The trail had a narrow strip of ice up the center where people had walked and packed down the snow. I was able to easily avoid the ice walking a little to the side of the main track where there was some soft snow. When we reached the "sitting rock", Sheena ignored it and continued to walk along the trail. We continued on the yellow trail up a small hill which had lost all the ice and snow we encountered on the last trip. When we reached the junction with the blue trail to the summit, we stopped so that I could take some pictures of the trails with my iPhone. There was quite a bit more snow in the trail because of the higher elevation and the fact that these trails faced west and north. We walked along the trail at the base of Round Top. The trail was covered in snow but was easily negotiated. At the next junction, we turned left and headed up the trail toward the summit. This section of trail was completely devoid of ice and snow but was muddy in spots. I really appreciated Sheena's pull as it really helped me up the hill. The trail near the summit was still frozen and contained some interesting holes from the frost heave. I stopped to take some pictures of the trails that were bare even though on the summit. We continued on the trail and started down the other side. We again encountered ice and snow on the trail that faced north. We passed the junction with the white crossover trail but turned left on the switchback on the blue trail. The trail herhe was covered in snow which was slippery but I was able to pick my way along until we were back at the main blue trail. We turned left and walked downhill until I stopped to take a few pictures of the snow-covered trails. When I was done, we walked waxbill to the junction with the yellow trail where we turned left. We again followed the trail along the base of Round Top and turned right at the junction with the yellow trail. We followed the yellow trail to the woods road where we turned right. I stopped in several places to take pictures of the cliffs to the right of the trail. We continued to walk downhill to the first trail junction. I had not taken any pictures from the lookout so we turned right and started uphill to the viewpoint. About halfway up the hill we could see a hiker starting down the hill toward us. Sheena was interested and as the woman neared us Sheena went nuts. I ushered her off the trail to allow the woman to pass. We took a moment to say "Hello" and discuss the nice weather and the condition of the trails. At the top of the hill, we turned left and walked a path out to the viewpoint. I took pictures of the school and town. I also got some shots if the upper viewpoint. I decided I did not want to continue on a loop, so we turned around and walked back down the hill to the first trail junction. We continued straight out the trail to the trailhead. We turned left and walked the road downhill to the middle road through the cemetery. We turned right on the road and walked out to the church.
We walked out the parking lot to the road and turned right on Rock Avenue and then left into the driveway. We were back at the house by 1:50 PM. We had hiked an hour and 15 minutes covering about 2 miles. Depsite the short distance, I was tired due to my lack of hiking and the rough conditions. I will have to find a training collar for Sheena as she is too strong and stubborn to control without one.
On Monday, March 10th, I wanted to take Sheena for a walk as the temperature was forecast to rise into the mid 50's. We had two overnight calls so I was tired and slept in until 9:30 AM. I decided to get ready and hike immediately as I had a crew on to cover ambulance calls. The temperature was 53 degrees and the skies were bright and sunny with some white clouds. I decided to take Sheena on the Parksville Rail Trail from Fox Mountain Road to Parksville. The Parksville Rail Trail is under three miles out and back but carrying a pack and keeping a quick pace helps increase the difficulty. The last time I took Sheena on this hike, I had the feeling that she could have done it again when we got back to the car. I decided on this route because it is flat and Sheena has a wicked pull on her leash. As I was getting dressed, I remembered how much Sheila liked to hike this trail. It seemed that Sheena likes hiking as she smells my clothes and then runs to sit by the door! I am looking forward to the time when I can let her off her leash. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with no 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 hoped that these pants would be warm enough once we got moving. 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 put on my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat but blocks the wind. I wore my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep the bottom of my pants dry and to add another layer to my lower legs. I made sure I put on a hat but knew I would not need gloves. I decided not to take any poles as I would have Sheena on her leash. I put my gear in the back of the car and left Livingston Manor at 10:15 AM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville and pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road just after Fox Mountain Rd. There were no cars parked in the lot when we arrived. I left my phone in the car so I could enjoy the hike. We started out on the trail at 10:25 AM under bright and sunny skies. I had put Sheena's harness on her which allows her to pull without choking herself. I attached a light leash to the harness and encouraged Sheena to jump down out of the car. Once of the ground she immediately began to pull me to the trailhead and up the trail.
The first part of the trail was frozen but had no snow or ice which made me happy. I had my spikes with me but wanted to avoid them if possible. Sheena insisted on setting a fast pace and pulling me along. Once we were on the trail and sheltered from the breeze by the trees it felt a little cooler and the trail was completely covered in ice enhanced with a layer of water on top. This combination was very slippery but Sheena had no problem walking. I encouraged Sheena to slow down while I tried to negotiate the mess by finding some snow that gave better traction. The trail runs parallel to the Little Beaverkill and the new section of State Route 17. It follows the route of the O&W railroad and is very flat. At one point we went off trail and walked through the snow next to the trail. After a about a quarter mile, we came to a section were the ice stretch from one side of the trail to the other. I decided to put on my spikes since that was the only way to walk on the ice. I leashed Sheena to a tree and put my pack down. I reached into the back pocket to retrieve my spikes and...they were not there! I checked the main compartment with no luck. I shouldered my pack and unleashed Sheena from the tree. We started back to the car. Sheena seemed happy that we had gotten out but I was annoyed that I was not prepared. Shortly after we arrived home, there was an ambulance call.
On Tuesday, March 4th I had not hiked for almost a week because of the rainy weather and a high volume of ambulance calls. Lisa contacted me the night before asking if I would like to take a walk on Round Top and we agreed on 11:00 AM. As often happens the pager went off early in the morning for a call. The calls was stressful and I almost called Lisa to cancel but I decided I wanted to go. She pushed the time to 11:15 AM which allowed me enough time to get home and clean up. At 11:00 AM the temperature was 41 degrees with no breeze and a mix of sun and clouds. I decided to carry my phone just in case another call came in. Sheena is a Feist-Cur cross which are actual types of dogs used on farms and for hunting in the south. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved 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 hoped that these pants would be warm enough once we got moving. 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 put on my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat but blocks the wind. I made sure I put on a warm hat and took a pair of light gloves. I decided not to take any poles as the walk would be short and I would be holding Sheena's leash. I also rejected the idea of taking spikes as I was pretty sure there wouldn't be much snow left on Te trails. At 11:10 AM I put Sheena on her leash and walked out the door to start the hike. I remembered to put a harness on Sheena which prevents her from choking herself and allows me to control her pull on the leash. We headed down the driveway and toward the street. Sheena has gotten used to walking on her leash to the end of the drive. She also has become accustomed to waiting for cars to pass by and then crossing when I say "OK". This time she looked both ways and then looked at me and I said "OK" because there were no cars. She readily crossed the street and wanted to head across the field by the church. I decided not to walk through the field of snow so we walked the road to the church parking lot where Lisa was waiting. Sheena is full of energy so I had to restrain her. Lisa had brought spikes and when I looked at the hill I was pretty sure she had the right idea. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. There were enough clear areas on the hill to allow me to walk along without slipping. Sheena gave me help up the hill by pulling on her leash. Sheena had no problem walking up the hill except for the fact that she likes to stop and sniff very frequently. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Not having poles made it more of a challenge for me especially with the snow and ice. We did not stop on the way to the top of the hill and set a fast pace. Sheena has grown bigger than we thought she would and her pull on the leash is signficant. At the top we paused briefly to look around before Sheena turned left and entered the frost trail. . Sheena did not seem to be bothered by the snow on the ground or the cooler temperatures. She was eager to enter the woods on the trail and hopped right up the steps rather than choosing to go straight ahead on the cemetery roads.
We started on the trail with Sheena setting a good pace even though the snow made the trail slippery. I immediately regretted not wearing spikes as I was having to watch my foot placement carefully while Lisa was just walking along. At the first trail junction, we continued straight up the hill with Sheena leading the way on her leash. The hill faces the sun so there was less snow than the trail heading off to the right. Sheena was full of energy and wanted to play but I encouraged her to concentrate on hiking. We progressed up the hill with me slipping in several places. When we reached the top of the hill, we stopped for a minute at the upper lookout. After a brief pause, we followed the yellow trail as it turned right. The trails were covered with a layer of snow and ice which was slippery. When we reached the "sitting rock", Sheena ignored it and continued to walk along the trail. We continued on the yellow trail up a small hill. I had to pick a route around the trail as it was covered in ice. Lisa simply followed the trail as her spikes gave her the traction needed. When we reached the junction with the blue trail to the summit, we continued straight ahead. I judged that climbing up this section would be easier than coming down it! Without poles I needed Sheena's pull to get up the hill. I decided we would do a loop rather than a figure 8 so we turned right on the white crossover. The trail had not been used by anyone since the last snowfall and walking on it was difficult for me. When we reached the junction with the blue trail, we turned right and headed downhill. By taking this route we had avoided the steepest downhill section. At the junction with the yellow trail, we continued straight ahead on the trail toward the woods road. Upon reaching the woods road, we turned right and continued down the more gradual slope to the first trail junction. Sheena had been pulling for almost the entire hike. Pulling uphill actually helped but pulling downhill disturbed my balance. Giving Sheena the command "With" helped as she would walked by my side. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked out to the trailhead. It was obvious that Sheena still had a lot of energy remaining as she was trying to do zoomies on a short leash. As I tried to control her, she slipped her harness and began running around the cemetery. She considered it playing while I considered it annoying. Eventually Sheena came back to me and I put her harness back on. We walked down the hill behind the church and said "Goodbye" to Lisa. We walked out the parking lot to the road and turned right on Rock Avenue and then left into the driveway. We were back at the house by 12:10 PM. We had hiked just under an hour. Depsite the short distance, I was tired due to my lack of hiking and the rough conditions. I will have to find a training collar for Sheena as she is too strong and stubborn to control without one.
On Wednesday, February 26th, I wanted to take Sheena for a walk as the temperature was forecast to rise into the mod 40's. After so many days of temperatures that barely topped 20, this was a real treat. February was a disaster for hiking and we had been nowhere for 2 weeks because of the nasty weather and numerous ambulance calls. Despite my good intentions February was a poor month for hiking. Recent injuries and illnesses have reduced the number of volunteers who can ride ambulance calls but it is my responsibility to see they are covered. We had one early morning call so I was relatively fresh and ready to take a walk. When I got back at 10:00 AM, the temperature was 43 degrees and the skies were bright and sunny with some white clouds. I knew I could not find an EMT to cover calls but I also knew that I had to get out for my own mental and physical health. I decided to take Sheena on the Parksville Rail Trail from Fox Mountain Road to Parksville. The Parksville Rail Trail is under three miles out and back but carrying a pack and keeping a quick pace helps increase the difficulty. The last time I took Sheena on this hike, I had the feeling that she could have done it again when we got back to the car. I decided on this route because it is flat and Sheena has a wicked pull on her leash. As I was getting dressed, I remembered how much Sheila liked to hike this trail. It seemed that Sheena likes hiking as she smells my clothes and then runs to sit by the door! I am looking forward to the time when I can let her off her leash. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved 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 hoped that these pants would be warm enough once we got moving. 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 put on my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat but blocks the wind. I wore my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep the bottom of my pants dry and to add another layer to my lower legs. I made sure I put on a warm hat but somehow forgot a pair of gloves. I decided not to take any poles as I would have Sheena on her leash. I put my gear in the back of the car and left Livingston Manor at 10:15 AM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville and pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road just after Fox Mountain Rd. There were no cars parked in the lot when we arrived. I left my phone in the car so I could enjoy the hike. We started out on the trail at 10:25 AM under bright and sunny skies. The temperature was 45 degrees but there was a slight breeze making it feel cooler. I had put Sheena's harness on her which allows her to pull without choking herself. I attached a light leash to the harness and encouraged Sheena to jump down out of the car. Once of the ground she immediately began to pull me to the trailhead and up the trail.
The first part of the trail was frozen and completely covered in a layer of snow about 2 inches deep with some crust on top. There was a track broken by others who had walked the trail and by what looked like a snowmobile. The track was packed and very icy. I had my spikes with me but wanted to avoid them if possible so I walked in the snow. Sheena insisted on setting a fast pace and pulling me along. Once we were on the trail and sheltered from the breeze by the trees it felt a little cooler and the trail was still frozen and covered in snow. Most of the trail was in the shade and had snow, ice, but no open water and mud. The trail trail runs parallel to the Little Beaverkill and the new section of State Route 17. It follows the route of the O&W railroad and is very flat. Sheena was setting a quick pace and I didn't mind as long as she would listen and slow down and stop pulling when we encountered ice! The water level in the stream was at a higher level than on our last trip but much of it was frozen and completely covered in snow. The trail had a few small branches that had broke off in the winds that blew or several days in a row last week. I worked to remove them as best I could. I wondered if we would run into any larger branches or trees down across the trail with the winds that had been blowing lately. Soon I looked up to see a single male hiker walking toward us. Sheena always goes buts when she sees people and this was no exception! The hiker took it in stride as we greeted each other and continued in opposite directions. The area just before the wooden walkways showed some interesting views with parts of the stream completely frozen. I decided to stop for pictures. I put my pack down and told Sheena to "stay" which she did. I took some shots at different zooms and then put the camera away. We walked across the wooden walkways which had some layers of snow and ice. The area by the bridge was completely covered by a thick layer of ice but the crunchy snow on top gave me some traction. The culvert under the bridge become blocked and the water overflows and pours over the bridge. No one seems concerned about solving this problem. We walked passed several trees that had been cut and cleared. We came to the area of the mudslide that had brought several trees down across the trail and found some ice to negotiate. I noticed my boots were getting a little wet from the melting snow but my feet were dry and not cold. I made a note to get out the winter boots, gaiters, and insulated pants. I had made myself this promise several times before but was really intending on keeping it this time. As we walked, we could not hear the uusal increase in the noise from the stream which I attributed to the frozen ground and frozen water in the stream. When we reached the falls, I inspected them and found the water was not as frozen as last time but the view was much the same. I really wanted to get down to the streambed to take some pictures of the falls head-on. The path still looked treacherous with snow covering a layer of ice. I had my spikes with me but in the end decided the trip down would not be worth it especially because I was alone. I leashed Sheena to the picnic table and got out my cmaera. I walked over to the edge of the ground above the falls and took pictures. I walked upstream and took some picture of the falls and the stream above the falls. I turned around and walked to the area just before the path to the streambed and took some more shots.
It was 10:50 AM so we had made the falls in 25 minutes. We started on the trail toward the Parksville trailhead at 10:58 AM after spending 8 minutes at the falls. This time I did not stop upstream of the falls but pushed on toward the other end of the trail. We continued toward Parksville with Sheena in the lead pushing the pace. Within a few minutes, we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail and Sheena was a little reluctant to continue. There are usually some dogs along the trail that bark loudly. There is often some loud music playing but it was quiet this day. We continued our walk and soon reached the sign at the Parksville end of the rail trail at 11:06 AM. We immediately turned around and started back toward the car. This was one of the few times we had not seen any dogs at the houses along the trail. Sheena is small but is very strong so I had her walk beside me rather than pull me along. We still set a fast pace and were soon back at the falls at 11:14 AM. We continued the hike without stopping. We set a fast pace and did not stop. The snow had melted a little compared to the hike out which made the footing a little tricky in places. We were soon breaking out of the woods on the path to the parking area. We arrived back at the car at 11:39 AM after hiking over 2 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes. There had been no ambulance calls while we were on the trail which made me feel good. Sheena seemed fresh amd could have hike out and back on the trail another time. I hope to try my theory on some longer hikes in the near future. I did not notice that she was shivering or picking up her feet because of the cold. I had been warm enough but I need to upgrade to my full winter gear especially pants and shoes for days when the temperatures is lower.
On Wednesday, February 12th, I wanted to take Sheena for a walk as the temperature would rise to almost freezing during the day. We had not been out for 2 weeks because of the nasty weather and numerous ambulance calls. Despite my good intentions February is shaping up to be a poor month for hiking. Recent injuries and illnesses have reduced the number of volunteers who can ride ambulance calls but it is Mt responsibility to see they are covered. We had two overnight calls and I was tired but I decided to try to get in a haircut. When I got back at noon, the temperature was 32 degrees even though the skies were overcast. I found an EMT to cover calls along with the scheduled driver. I decided to take Sheena on the Parksville Rail Trail from Fox Mountain Road to Parksville. The Parksville Rail Trail is under three miles out and back but carrying a pack and keeping a quick pace helps increase the difficulty. The last time I took Sheena on this hike, I had the feeling that she could have done it again when we got back to the car. As I was getting dressed at noon, I remembered how much Sheila liked to hike this trail. It seemed that Sheena likes hiking as she smells my clothes and then runs to sit by the door! I am looking forward to the time when I can let her off her leash. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved 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 hoped that these pants would be warm enough once we got moving. 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 put on my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat but blocks the wind. I thought about wearing my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep the bottom of my pants dry and to add another layer to my lower legs but somehow forgot them. I made sure I put on a warm hat and took a pair of gloves. I decided not to take any poles as I would have Sheena on her leash. I put my gear in the back of the car and left Livingston Manor at 12:15 PM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville and pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road just after Fox Mountain Rd. There were no cars parked in the lot when we arrived. I left my phone in the car so I could enjoy the hike. We started out on the trail at 12:25 PM under completely overcast skies with the feeling of precipitation in the air. The temperature was 28 degrees and a slight breeze made it feel colderThe forecast was for snow, sleet and freezing rain later in the day. I had put Sheena's harness on her which allows her to pull without choking herself. I attached a light leash to the harness and encouraged Sheena to jump down out of the car. Once of the ground she immediately began to pull me to the trailhead and up the trail.
The first part of the trail was frozen and completely covered in a layer of snow about 2 inches deep with some crust on top. There was a track broken by others who had walked the trail. Sheena insisted on setting a fast pace and pulling me along. Once we were on the trail and sheltered from the breeze by the trees it felt a little warmer but the trail was still frozen and covered in snow. Most of the trail was in the shade and had snow, ice, but no open water and mud. The trail trail runs parallel to the Little Beaverkill and the new section of State Route 17. It follows the route of the O&W railroad and is very flat. Sheena was setting a quick pace and I didn't mind as long as she would listen and slow down and stop pulling when we encountered ice! The water level in the stream was at a lower level than I expected but much of it was frozen and completely covered in snow. The trail had a few small branches that had broke off in the winds that blew or several days in a row last week. I worked to remove them as best I could. I wondered if we would run into any larger branches or trees down across the trail with the winds that had been blowing lately. The area just before the wooden walkways showed some interesting views with parts of the stream completely frozen. I decided not to stop for pictures as the scene was much the same as on our last rip. (The pictures in this text and the photo album are from our January trip.) We walked across the wooden walkways which had some layers of snow and ice. The area by the bridge was completely covered by a thick layer of ice but the crunchy snow on top gave me some traction. The culvert under the bridge become blocked and the water overflows and pours over the bridge. No one seems concerned about solving this problem. We walked passed several trees that had been cut and cleared. We came to the area of the mudslide that had brought several trees down across the trail and found a lot of ice to negotiate. I noticed my boots were getting a little wet from the melting snow but my feet were dry and not cold. I made a note to get out the winter boots, gaiters, and insulated pants. I had made myself this promise several times before but was Wally intending on keeping it this time. As we walked, we could not hear the uusal increase in the noise from the stream which I attributed to the frozen ground and frozen water in the stream. When we reached the falls, I inspected them and found the water almost completely frozen. I really wanted to get down to the streambed to take some pictures of the falls head-on. The path looked treacherous with snow covering a layer of ice. I had my spikes with me but in the end decided the trip down would not be worth it especially because I was alone. I decided that the falls were much the same as last time and no pictures were necessary.
It was 12:50 so we had made the falls in 25 minutes. We started on the trail toward the Parksville trailhead. This time I did not stop upstream of the falls but pushed on toward the other end of the trail. We continued toward Parksville with Sheena in the lead pushing the pace. She was trying to do zoomies on a very short leash! I am hoping to be able to let her off her leash to hike sometime soon with an electronic collar to help. Within a few minutes, we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail and Sheena was a little reluctant to continue. There are usually some dogs along the trail that bark loudly. There is also usually some loud music playing but it was quiet this day. We continued our walk and soon reached the sign at the Parksville end of the rail trail at 12:59 PM. We immediately turned around and started back toward the car. This was one of the few times we had not seen any dogs at the houses along the trail. Sheena is small but is very strong so I had her walk beside me rather than pull me along. We still set a fast pace and were soon back at the falls. It was 1:08 PM as we continued the hike without stopping. We set a fast pace without stopping and soon were breaking out of the woods on the path to the parking area. We arrived back at the car at 12:35 PM after hiking over 2 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes. There had been no ambulance calls while we were on the trail. I again felt Sheena could have hike out and back on the trail another time and would have enjoyed it despite the cold. I did not notice that she was shivering or picking up her feet because of the cold. I had been warm enough but I need to upgrade to my full winter gear especially pants and shoes.
On Wednesday, January 29th, I wanted to take Sheena for a walk as the temperature was 37 degrees 10:00 AM. We had not been out for 11 days because of the extreme cold and wind and numerous ambulance calls. I decided to take Sheena on the Parksville Rail Trail from Fox Mountain Road to Parksville. The Parksville Rail Trail is under three miles out and back but carrying a pack and keeping a quick pace helps increase the difficulty. The last time I took Sheena on this hike, I had the feeling that she could have done it again when we got back to the car. I was not sure there was a crew around to cover calls but I needed to get out if the house for some exercise. As I was getting dressed at 10:30 AM, I remembered how much Sheila liked to hike this trail and take a swim at the falls. It seemed that Sheena likes hiking as she smells my clothes and then runs to sit by the door! I am looking forward to the time when I can let her off her leash. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved 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 hoped that these pants would be warm enough once we got moving. 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 put on my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat but blocks the wind. I pit on my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep the bottom of my pants dry and to add another layer to my lower legs. I made sure I put on a warm hat and took a pair of gloves. I decided not to take any poles as I would have Sheena on her leash. I put my gear in the back of the car and left Livingston Manor at 10:55 AM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville and pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road just after Fox Mountain Rd. There were no cars parked in the lot when we arrived. I left my phone in the car so I could enjoy the hike. We started out on the trail at 11:05 PM under completely overcast skies with the feeling of precipitation in the air. The forecast was for increasing wind velocity with a chance of a snow squall. I had put Sheena's harness on her which allows her to pull without choking herself. I attached a light leash to the harness and encouraged Sheena to jump down out of the car. Once of the ground she immediately began to pull me to the trailhead and up the trail.
The first part of the trail was frozen and completely covered in a layer of snow about 2 inches deep. Sheena insisted on setting a fast pace and pulling me along. Once we were on the trail and sheltered from the breeze by the trees it felt a little warmer but the trail was still frozen and covered in snow. Most of the trail was in the shade and had snow, ice, but no open water and mud. 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. Sheena was setting a quick pace and I didn't mind as long as she would listen and slow down and stop pulling when we encountered ice! The water level in the stream was at a lower level than I expected but much of it was frozen and covered in snow. The trail had a many small branches that had broke off in the winds that blew or several days in a row last week. I worked to remove them as best I could. I wondered if we would run into any larger branches or trees down across the trail with the winds that had been blowing lately. The area just before the wooden walkways showed some interesting views with parts of the stream completely frozen. I stopped to take some shots of the stream and the dark and overcast skies. After that, we walked across the wooden walkways which had some layers of snow and ice. The area by the bridge was completely covered by a thick layer of ice. The culvert under the bridge become blocked and the water overflows and pours over the bridge. No one seems concerned about solving this problem. We walked passed several trees that had been cut and cleared. We came to the area of the mudslide that had brought several trees down across the trail and found a lot of ice to negotiate. I noticed my boots were getting a little wet from the melting snow but my feet were not cold. I made a note to get out the winter boots, gaiters, and insulated pants. As we walked, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls were just ahead. When we reached the falls, I inspected them and found the water almost completely frozen. I really wanted to get down to the streambed to take some pictures of the falls head-on. The path looked treacherous with snow covering a layer of ice. I had my spikes with me but in the end decided the trip down would not be worth it especially because I was alone. I leashed her to the picnic table and got out my camera. I took shots of the falls from above. They were so nice I almost decided to go down to the streambed. I took more shots upstream and downstream from the falls.
When I was done, I unleashed Sheena and we started on the trail toward the Parksville trailhead. This time I did not stop upstream of the falls but pushed on toward the other end of the trail. We continued toward Parksville with Sheena in the lead pushing the pace. She was trying to do zoomies on a very short leash! I am hoping to be able to let her off her leash to hike sometime soon with an electronic collar to help. Within a few minutes, we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail and Sheena was a little reluctant to continue. There are usually some dogs along the trail that bark loudly. There is also usually some loud music playing but it was quiet this day. We continued but suddenly a very large dog across the stream began barking loudly. Sheena wanted no part of this and would have turned around but I encouraged her to continue. We reached the sign at the Parksville end of the rail trail at 11:55 AM. We immediately turned around and started back toward the car. This was one of the few times we had not seen any dogs at the houses along the trail. Sheena still set a fast pace which would have required me to run so I restrained her a little and gave her commands until she slowed down. We were soon back at the falls and continued the hike without stopping. We set a fast pace without stopping and soon were breaking out of the woods on the path to the parking area. Snow was beginning to fall and the wind had kicked up to gusts of 30 mph! We arrived back at the car at 12:40 PM after hiking over 2 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes including the time to clear the trail and take pictures! There had been one mutual aid ambulance call while we were on the trail. I again felt Sheena could have hike out and back on the trail another time and would have enjoyed it despite the cold. I did not notice that she was shivering or picking up her feet because of the cold. As I drove back toward home, the snowfall began to increase so that it was hard to see the road.
On Saturday, January 18th, I wanted to take Sheena for a walk but the temperature at 9:00 AM was only 19 degrees! We had not been out for 12 days because of the extreme cold and wind and numerous ambulance calls. I went to the ambulance building to hang out and do some work. I returned home by 11:30 AM and noticed the temperature was 30 degrees. I decided to take Sheena on the Parksville Rail Trail from Fox Mountain Road to Parksville. The Parksville Rail Trail is under three miles out and back but carrying a pack and keeping a quick pace helps increase the difficulty. The last time I took Sheena on this hike, I had the feeling that she could have done it again when we got back to the car. I made sure there was a crew around to cover calls. As I was getting dressed at 11:30 AM, I remembered how much Sheila liked to hike this trail and take a swim at the falls. It seemed that Sheena likes hiking as she smells my clothes and then runs to sit by the door! I am looking forward to the time when I can let her off her leash. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved 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 hoped that these pants would be warm enough once we got moving. 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 put on my Mammut hoody which has plenty of zippers to dump heat but blocks the wind. I made sure I had a warm hat and gloves. I decided not to take any poles as I would have Sheena on her leash. I put my gear in the back of the car and left Livingston Manor at 11:50 AM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Parksville and pulled into the parking area on the right side of the road just after Fox Mountain Rd. There were no cars parked in the lot when we arrived. I left my phone in the car so I could enjoy the hike. We started out on the trail at 12:05 PM under completely overcast skies with the feeling of precipitation in the air. I had put Sheena's harness on her which allows her to pull without choking herself. I attached a light leash to the harness and encouraged Sheena to jump down out of the car. Once of the ground she immediately began to pull me to the trailhead and up the trail.
The first part of the trail was frozen and completely covered in a layer of snow about 2 inches deep. Sheena insisted on setting a fast pace and pulling me along. Once we were on the trail and sheltered from the breeze by the trees it felt a little warmer but the trail was still frozen and covered in snow. Most of the trail was in the shade and had snow, ice, but no open water and mud. 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. Sheena was setting a quick pace and I didn't mind as long as she would listen and slow down and stop pulling when we encountered ice! The water level in the stream was at a much higher level than I expected but I could also see a lot of ice. The trail had a many small branches that had broke off in the winds that blew or several days in a row last week. I worked to remove them as best I could. I wondered if we would run into any larger branches or trees down across the trail with the winds that had been blowing lately. The area just before the wooden walkways showed some interesting views with parts of the stream almost completely frozen. I stopped to take some shots of the stream and then had Sheena pose next to my pack. After that, we walked across the wooden walkways which had some layers of snow and ice. We walked passed several trees that had been cut and cleared. We came to the area of the mudslide that had brought several trees down across the trail and found a lot of ice to negotiate. I had forgotten to put in my gaiters to keep the snow off my pants and out of my boots! I noticed my boots were getting wet and my feet were a little cold. I made a note to get out the winter boots, gaiters, and insulated pants. As we walked, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls were just ahead. We reached the falls at 12:30 PM and I decided not to go to the streambed to take pictures. The path looked treacherous and I was alone. I leashed her to the picnic table and got out my camera. I took shots of the falls from above. They were so nice I almost decided to go down to the streambed. I took more shots upstream and downstream from the fall.
When I was done, I unleashed Sheena and we started on the trail toward the Parksville trailhead at 12:40 PM. This time I did not stop upstream of the falls as my feet were cold. We continued toward Parksville with Sheena in the lead pushing the pace. She was trying to do zoomies on a very short leash! I am hoping to be able to let her off her leash to hike sometime soon with an electronic collar to help. Within a few minutes, we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail and Sheena was a little reluctant to continue. Someone had some music playing very loud outside even though there was no sight if them. These are people who believe that I want to listen to their noise! We continued and reached the sign at the Parksville end of the rail trail at 12:42 PM. We immediately turned around and started back toward the car. This was the first time we had not seen any dogs at the houses along the trail. Sheena still set a fast pace which would have required me to run so I restrained her a little and gave her commands until she slowed down. We were back at the falls by 12:50 PM and continued the hike without stopping. We continued at a fast pace without stopping and soon were breaking out of the woods on the oath to the parking area. We arrived back at the car at 1:15 PM after hiking over 2 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes including the time to clear the trail and take pictures! There had been no ambulance calls while we were on the trail! I again felt Sheena could have hike out and back on the trail another time and would have enjoyed it despite the cold. I did not notice that she was shivering or picking up her feet because of the cold.
On Monday, January 6th I had not hiked for a week because of the bitterly cold weather and a high volume of ambulance calls. The extreme cold had prevented me from getting out with Sheena as her coat is not warm enough for that kind of weather. I remember that even though Sheila had a great coat, I had not taken her out for very long below 20 degrees. Although the temperature was only 26 degrees there was only a slight breeze so I decided to take Sheena over to Round Top after covering an early morning call. This would allow me to respond if I had to and to adjust the length of the hike based on Sheena's ability to withstand the cold. This would be our first hike of 2025. At 1:00 PM I decided to head across the street to Round Top and carry my phone just in case another call came in. Sheena is a Feist-Cur cross which are actual types of dogs used on farms and for hunting in the south. I got dressed in my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. My RailRiders hiking pants are pretty light for this kind of weather and I have yet to get out my cold weather pants so I decided to where my corps BDUs. They are a heavy cotton twill and are not ideal for long hikes but I thought they would be alright for this day. I made a note to bring my winter clothing down from the attic! I had not yet brought out my winter boots so 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 did put on my Mammut hoody as I felt that it would keep me warm enough but the pitzips would allow me to dump enough heat if I was too warm. I put on a warm hat and gloves. I decided not to take any poles as the walk would be short and I would be holding Sheena's leash. At 1:15 PM I put Sheena on her leash and walked out the door to start the hike. I remembered to put a harness on Sheena which prevents her from choking herself and allows me to control her pull on the leash. We headed down the driveway and toward the street. Sheena has gotten used to walking on her leash to the end of the drive. She also has become accustomed to waiting for cars to pass by and then crossing when I say "OK". This time she looked both ways and then looked at me and I said "OK" because there were no cars. She readily crossed the street and wanted to head across the field by the church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. I realized there was a thin layer of snow which was slipperier than I had anticipated! Sheena had no problem walking up the hill except for the fact that she likes to stop and sniff very frequently. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Not having poles made it more of a challenge for me especially with the snow. We did not stop on the way to the top of the hill and set a fast pace. Sheena is getting bigger every day and her pull on the leash is signficant. At the top we did not bother to paused because of the overcast skies and the snowflakes in the air. Sheena did not seem to be bothered by the snow on the ground or the cooler temperatures. She was eager to enter the woods on the trail and hopped right up the steps rather than choosing to go straight ahead on the cemetery roads.
We started on the trail with Sheena setting a good pace even though the snow made the trail slippery. At the first trail junction, we continued straight up the hill with Sheena leading the way on her leash. Sheena was full of energy and wanted to play but I encouraged her to concentrate on hiking. We progressed up the hill with me slipping in several places. When we reached the top of the hill, we followed the yellow trail as it turned right. The trails were covered with a thin layer of snow which was slippery despite the depth due to some ice underneath. When we reached the "sitting rock", Sheena ignored it and continued to walk along the trail. We continued on the yellow trail up a small hill to the junction with the blue trail to the summit. Without poles I needed Sheena's pull to get up the small hill. I decided we would do figure 8 and Sheena read my mind as she turned right and walked the trail along the base of Round Top. We stopped a couple of times to remove blowdowns on the trail. There were a few boot prints indicating people were using the trails despite the weather. At the next trail junction with the blue trail, we turned left to head up toward the highest point on the trails. Once again, I needed Sheena to pull me on the steeper parts which she seemed happy to do. We passed by the white crossover trail and made it to the flatter part of the trail on top of the hill. I knew that now we would have to descend and that even the switchback might be slippery. We started down the hill with me alternating a cautious sidestepping method and a breakneck skiing slipping and sliding. When we came to the turn for the switchback, Sheena followed the boot trail as we would turn left on the switchback. We followed the trail until it made an almost 180 degree turn back toward the main trail. This short section is steep and on this day it was slick with snow. I slid down that section and then followed the trail back out to the main trail using some saplings to hold me up. We turned left on the main blue trail and walked back down to the junction with the yellow trail. Sheena was doing a good job following commands. When I say "with" she walks by my side and does not pull which is hard for her. The walk along the base of Round Top was much easier than on the hills and we were soon at the trail junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. I never thought of this trail as being a hill but on snow with no traction it proved challenging. We hit the woods road without incident and continue downhill to the first trail junction. I had planned to do two figure 8's but that was before I found the conditions we had just experience. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. We turned left to walk the roads through the cemetery which were also covered in snwo. Where the road branched, we turned right to walk the middle road through the cemetery. We walked down the hill behind the church and out the parking lot to the road. We turned right in Rock Avenue and then left into the driveway. We were back at the house by 2:20 PM. We had hiked just over an hour for nearly two miles hiking. Depsite the short distance, I was tired due to my lack of hiking and the rough conditions.
On Monday, December 30 I wanted to get out for a walk with Sheena to help her work off some of her seemingly endless supply of energy. The ambulance calls have been coming frequently and I needed to catch up on some sleep as we covered a call late the night before. By the time I finally got up at noon I felt rested. The skies were sunny with only a few clouds making it ideal for hiking. Shortly after that two mutual aid calls came in and Brad and I split to cover both calls in Liberty. By the time we both returned it was 3:00 PM and I was tired again. I decided I had to get Sheena out so at 3:30 PM I started to get ready to hike. This would be only our second hike of the winter season. Sheena is a Feist-Cur cross which are actual types of dogs used on farms and for hunting in the south. The temperature was 52 degrees and two days of those temperatures and rain had eliminated all the snow in the back yard. I decided to get going quickly I would just wear what I had on which was my uniform BDUs and a long sleeved cotton corps tee shirt. I knew these were not the best for hiking but I anticipated a short walk only. I had on my Keen Durand hiking boots as there was no snow. I had added a new pair of Xstance insoles to my Keen boots 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 did put on my Mammut hoody as I felt that it would keep me warm enough but the pitzips would allow me to dump enough heat if I was too warm. I put on a fleecy hat since it was the first one I could find but did not bother with a pair of gloves. I decided not to take any poles as the walk would be short and I would be holding Sheena's leash. At 3:50 PM I put Sheena's harness on her and attached her leash. We walked out the backdoor to start the hike. The sunny skies had turned completely overcast with a stiff breeze and a few raindrops falling. The harness prevents Sheena from choking herself but I still have to control her pull on the leash. We headed down the driveway and toward the street. Sheena has gotten used to walking on her leash to the end of the drive. She also has become accustomed to waiting for cars to pass by and then crossing when I say "OK". This time she looked both ways and then looked at me and I said "OK" because there were no cars. She readily crossed the street and headed across the field by the church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. Four days ago Brad and I had struggled our way up the hill and over the trails which were all covered in several inches of slippery slush and snow. On this day all of the snow was gone leaving a cover of wet leaves behind. Sheena had no problem walking up the hill except for the fact that she likes to stop and sniff very frequently. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Not having poles made it more of a challenge for me. We did not stop on the way to the top of the hill and set a fast pace. Sheena is getting bigger every day and her pull on the leash is signficant. At the top we did not bother to paused because of the overcast skies and the chance of rain. I had thought we would simply walk a few loops of the cemetery but Sheena was eager to enter the woods on the trail and hopped right up the steps.
We started on the trail with Sheena setting a good pace even though the leaves were slippery. At the first trail junction, we turned right and started up the woods road. I had been hiking straight up the hill to the lookout for the last few hikes and thought this might be a nice change. Along the woods road there were some branches on the trail from the recent winds and I took a moment to remove them. When the woods road ended, we turned left and started up the trail to the junction with the blue trail. We usually turn left at this junction to start a figure 8but I decided we would continue straight ahead on the blue trail to the summit and walk a big loop. The trail uphill had some mud in places where the snow had meted which Mae it important to get a good foot placement. Sheena's pull on the leash certainly helped. She paused a moment at the white crossover trail but I encouraged her to continue straight up to the top. Once we got to the flat trail across the highest point, we ran into a flooded and marshy area with mud several inches deep. I skirted the area but Sheena walked through and did not seem to mind. When we started down the hill I had to restrain Sheena by giving her the "With" command which is equivalent to heel. Left on her own she will comtinue to pull downhill which upsets my balance. We reached the switchback and turned left to walk out into the woods. I removed a few larger branches and then made the turn to head back to the main trail. It was a little slippery in places on the switchback but we made it back to the main trail and turned left to walk downhill to the trail junction with the yellow trail. At the junction Sheena started to turn left as that is the way we usually go. She has learned the pattern we normally hike but on this day I guided her straight ahead on the yellow trail toward the lookout. We passed the "sitting rock" but Sheena was intent on walking on the trail and we passed right by it. At the viewpoint Sheena turned left and started down the steep hill back to the first trail junction. Again, I had to hold her back as she was still full of energy. When we returned to the first trail junction, I considered the options. I had intended to complete at least a small loop but it was getting dark and the wind had picked up. I decided to hike out to the trailhead so we continued straight out the trail. At the trailhead, we turned left to add just a little time and distance. We walked beneath the huge evergreens and downhill on the road. At the base of the hill, we turned right to walk the middle road through the cemetery. At this point a gust of wind hit us and a mixture of rain, freezing rain, and snow hit us. We sped up and walked the middle road to the back of the church. The wind was blowing steadily and the clouds were gathering. We crossed the church parking lot to the street. When a few cars passed, we crossed the road and walked to the driveway. We were back at the house by 4:40 PM. We had hiked for 50 minutes covering a little more than a mile hiking.
On Thursday, December 26 I had not hiked for almost a two weeks because of other commitments including a high volume of ambulance calls. The extreme cold ahd also preventedfrom getting out with Sheena as her coat is not warm enough for that kind of weather. I remember that even though Sheila had a great coat, I had not taken her out for very long below 20 degrees. This would be our first official hike of the winter season. Brad and I had covered several overnight and morning call but were finally home by noon. We decided to head across the street to Round Top and carry our phones just in case another call came in. Brad decided he would take his dog Pierce on the walk. Pierce really likes to run especially if he see any animals so both the dogs would be on leashes. Sheena is a Feist-Cur cross which are actual types of dogs used on farms and for hunting in the south. We started to get ready to hike with the temperature at 37 degrees on the back porch. I decided to just wear what I had on which was my uniform BDUs and a long sleeved cotton corps tee shirt. I knew these were not the bet for hiking but I anticipated a short walk only. I decided to put on my Keen Durand hiking boots as there was only a few inches of snow and my winter boots were still in the basement. I had added a new pair of Xstance insoles to my Keen boots 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 did put on my Mammut hoody as I felt that it would keep me warm enough but the pitzips would allow me to dump enough heat if I was too warm. I put on a fleecy hat since it was the first one I could find and put a pair of gloves in my pockets. I decided not to take any poles as the walk would be short and I would be holding Sheena's leash. At 1:00 PM we put the dogs on their leashes and walked out the door to start the hike. I forgot to put a harness on Sheena which prevents her from choking herself so I had to control her pull on the leash. We headed down the driveway and toward the street. Sheena has gotten used to walking on her leash to the end of the drive. She also has become accustomed to waiting for cars to pass by and then crossing when I say "OK". This time she looked both ways and then looked at me and I said "OK" because there were no cars. She readily crossed the street and wanted to head across the field by the church. I decided I did not want to walk through the rain-soaked snow so we walked up the street and through the church parking lot to the back of the church. We began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. I realized there was more snow reaming than I had anticipated and it was very slippery! Sheena had no problem walking up the hill except for the fact that she likes to stop and sniff very frequently. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." Not having poles made it more of a challenge for me especially with the snow. We did not stop on the way to the top of the hill and set a fast pace. Sheena is getting bigger every day and her pull on the leash is signficant. At the top we did not bother to paused because of the overcast skies. Sheena did not seem to be bothered by the snow on the ground or the cooler temperatures. She was eager to enter the woods on the trail and hopped right up the steps. Pierce seemed to be having a good time also.
We started on the trail with Sheena setting a good pace even though there was several inches of snow. At the first trail junction, we continued straight up the hill with Sheena leading the way on her leash. Sheena was full of energy and wanted to play in the snow especially when pieces cascaded down the hill. I encouraged her to concentrate on hiking and we progressed up the hill with me slipping in several places. When we reached the top of the hill, we followed the yellow trail as it turned right. The trails were covered with wet and slippery snow which made the footing unsteady except for Sheena and Pierce who both have When we reached the "sitting rock", Sheena ignored it and continued to walk along the trail. We continued on the yellow trail up a small hill to the junction with the blue trail to the summit. Without poles I needed Sheena's pull to get up the small hill. I decided we would do figure 8 so we turned right and walked the trail along the base of Round Top. We stopped twice to remove blowdowns on the trail. There were quite a few boot prints indicating people were using the trails despite the weather. At the next trail junction with the blue trail, we turned left to head up toward the highest point on the trails. Once again, I needed Sheena to pull me on the steeper parts which she seemed happy to OD. We passed by the white crossover trail and made it to the flatter part of the trail on top of the hill. I knew that now we would have to descend and that even the switchback might be slippery. We started down the hill with me alternating a cautious sidestepping method and a breakneck skiing slipping and sliding. When we came to the turn for the switchback, the boot trail I had been following went straight down the old trail. I decided we would turn left on the switchback. We followed the trail until it made an almost 180 degree turn back toward the main trail. This short section is steep and on this day it was slick with snow. I slod down that section and then followed the trail back out to the main trail using some saplings to hold me up. We turned left on the main blue trail and walked back down to the junction with the yellow trail. I kept looking back to check on Brad and Pierce but they were doing fine. The walk along the base of Round Top was much easier than on the hills and we were soon at the trail junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right to head down the trail to the woods road. I never thought of this trail as being a hill but on snow with no traction it proved challenging. We hit the woods road without incident and continue downhill to the first trail junction. I had planned to do two figure 8's but that was before we found the conditions we had just experience. We turned left and walked out to the trailhead. As we came to the trail head, I noticed a young couple behind us and they were overtaking rather quickly. We stopped at the trailhead and let them pass to start their descent. We followed at a distance and the way down was interesting but we made it without falling. We walked behind the church and out the parking lot to the road. We turned right in Rock Avenue and then left into the driveway. We were back at the house by 2:05 PM. We had hiked just over an hour for a little more than a mile hiking. Depsite the short distance, I was tired due to my lack of hiking and the rough conditions.