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Spring 2024

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Spring 2024

On Wednesday, June 19th, I wanted to get in a hike but I had a district pastor's meeting in the morning and some other things I had to hamdle in the early afternoon. I was home by 2:00 PM but the temperature was 94 degrees on the back porch. I decided to go to the Parksville Rail Trail and hike from Fox Mountain Road to Parksville and back. I was worried that the temperature would be too high for Sheila but I also knew we would be in the shade with a stream available. I wasn't sure there was another EMT available but I knew I had to get out for my own health. I hoped we could get in a hike for about an hour without missing any calls. The Parksville Rail Trail is under three miles out and back. As I was getting dressed, Sheila stayed glued to the floor of my study. I got dressed in my White Sierra long-sleeved top with a short-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 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 MicroVario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 2:15 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 no cars parked in the lot when we arrived. I left my phone in the car so that I could enjoy the hike. We started out on the trail at 2:30 PM under variable skies.

The first part of the trail was dry with the sun on the gravel and a slight breeze. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler and the trail was about as I expected with a few wet spots and some 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. The water level in the stream was the lowest I had seen since last summer. We passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. The trail was completely free of branches and even the smallest twigs. I stopped at the area just before the wooden walkways and bridge and decided to take some shots of the stream and the clouds in the sky. The skies were slightly overcast and darker than I thought they would be. The walkways that had been raked and swept were starting to show some layers of mud. We walked passed several trees that had been cut and cleared. We came to the mudslide that had brought several trees down across the trail. All of these trees had been cut with a chainsaw and removed. Just after this area was another tree that a crew had cut and cleared. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls were just ahead. I could also hear laughing and screaming so I knew there were probably some kids playing at the falls. When we got to the falls, Sheila and I started down the trail to the bottom of the falls. The volume of water was lower than on previous hikes but the way the water was flowing created an interesting effect. At the bottom I removed my pack and got out my camera. I took some pictures downstream and then turned my attention to the falls. I decided to take pictures despite the presence of a group of people. I had several programs that could remove incanted objects later. I shifted position to take more shots upstream. I used different zooms to get shots from different zooms and angles. I took shots encompassing the entire scene and then several close-ups of the main falls and the rapids below it. I like the noise of the falls and the volume of water which exude power but also bring me peace. The screaming of the people did not bring peace! Sheila took a dip in the stream to get her feet wet. I took some shots of her. When I was finished, I packed up and walked back up the path to the trail to the picnic table. I took some pictures of the falls from above and some upstream of the falls and rapids. We continued on the trail toward Parksville. I did stop at the next bench to take a few shots of the rapes above the falls.

The weather was really hot and humid but the clothes I had worn were the best I could have worn. I had prepared for insects but there were only a few along the length of the stream. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail passing some rundown and dilapidated buildings which should be removed. Several of the buildings showed that work was being done on them. 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 absemt. 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. After a brief pause, we turned around at 3:05 PM and began the walk back on the trail. The return trip went more quickly as we did not stop for me to practice my photography. We passed the falls and kept up our fast pace. It was still very warm and humid. When we broke out of the trees into the sun, we could feel the warmth of the sun. We arrived back at the car at 3:30 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in exactly 1 hour! This was a personal best for the walk with photography. I checked my phone and there had been no ambulance calls while we were on the trail!

On Wednesday, June 12th, the weather forecast was for a partly sunny and warm day. I wanted to go to Frick Pond to clean up some blowdowns which were blocking the Quick Lake Trail between Iron Wheel Junction and Junkyard Junction. On Wednesday, there is a driver and EMT to cover ambulance calls so I can spend time hiking or biking. At 8:15 Am there was an ambulance call and I responded to help the other two crew members. I was home by 10:30 AM and ready to go hiking. I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Frick Pond and do the work. She agreed and we started to get ready with the temperature at 62 degrees on the back porch. As I was getting dressed, Sheila was very quiet but did not let me out of her sight. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a light short-sleeved 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 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, by 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 leave my poles home as the walk was short and I would be carrying tools. I put on my wide-brimmed OR hat which I have found allows my to apply insect repellant to keep away the mosquitoes which are numerous at Frick Pond. I also remembered my OR Bugout gaiters as I thought there would be some water and mud on the trail. The gaiters also discouraged the ticks which have been numerous this season. I brought along my phone but resolved to leave it in the car as there was no service in the area anyway. I put my Silky Sugowaza Sugowaza saw and Silky KatanaBoy 500 saw in my pack. The Sugowaza is a fixed blade in a scabbard and is great for branches and smaller trunks. The KatanaBoy has very large teeth and a lot of them and folds. I also brought my Fiskars pack axe which is light but packs some punch. I put our gear in the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left Livingston Manor at 11:10 AM. I drove out the DeBruce Road about 6 miles to Mongaup Road. I turned left to continue up the road to the point where it splits. I stayed left on Beech Mountain Road and drove to the Frick Pond trailhead. When we arrived at the parking areas, there were no cars parked in either lot. I pulled into the smaller lot and parked. The skies were completely overcast with only a hint of brightness behind the clouds. The temperature was right at 59 degrees which was about what I thought it might be. We started out the woods road to the register at 11:30 AM. As we walked out the woods road, I cleared some branches from the wet and muddy trail. At the register we continued straight ahead on the Quick Lake Trail. From the register the trail was wet with some standing water and plenty of mud.

On the way to Gravestone Junction, there were several branches that were hanging over into the trail. We also found two or three white birch trees bent over the trail because their roots had given way. I thought I might cut those on the return trip. At Gravestone Junction we found another set of white birches leaning over the trail. We stayed left on the Quick Lake Trail heading toward the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond. This area of the trail had more mud but it was minimal compared to what it sometimes looks like. We continue on the trail and soon arrived at the bridge. I looked at the scene and decided I wanted to get to work on the blowdowns. We continued around the west side of the pond where the trail was also wet and muddy. At the junction with the Big Rock Trail, we headed left on the Quick Lake Trail which was wet and muddy in places. We walked along the Quick Lake trail avoiding several muddy areas until we entered the "spruce tunnel". There was one large trunk across the trail which was high enough to make hiker's crawl over it. This one would require a chainsaw! We continued to walk until we got to the stream through the woods. The water volume was low so we were easily able to cross. A little farther up the trail was another large trunk but there was a small path around it. From this point the trail begins a gentle but steady climb to Iron Wheel Junction. The trail was damp and muddy in places but we were setting a fast pace. Soon we were at Iron Wheel Junction where we turned left to continue on the Quick Lake Trail. The recent rain and sunshine had stimulated the growth of the ferns and grasses making it appear that no one had been using the trail. We continued to hike up the trail as the grade became a little steeper. I was beginning to feel the added weight of the tools in my pack and the lack of poles. Cindy fell a little behind and asked how much further we had to go. I thought it was about half a mile and told her. We passed the junction with the snowmobile trail where there was a pile of brush on the trail. I decided to remove it on the way back. I quickened my pace and eventually arrived at the large blowdown at 12:25 PM.

I put my pack down and got out my camera to take some pictures. Cindy arrived and we surveyed the massive blowdown before us. We began to survey the blowdown for the best attack. Cindy and I had some different ideas about how to proceed and I found that a combination of our strategies work best. Our goal was to cut enough of the smaller trunks and branches to make a path for hikers to get through. The larger trunks would have to wait for a chainsaw. Any of these trunks could be cut with hand tools but it would take multiple cuts of several trunks. We removed as many of the loose branches as possible. I then used the Sugowaza to cut small to medium-sized branches and remove them from the trail. Eventually it became clear that we would have to cut a section out of one of the larger trunks to clear a path for hikers. Cindy and I teamed up to cut through the trunk and I was able to move it aside. We then decided to make another cut to remove a section to open a window through the mess. I used the ax to cut some wood fibers and then used the KatanaBoy to cut through the trunk. It took us an hour but we cleared a nice path through the blowdown. I thought about going further up the trail to cut some more of the blowdowns but we decided we were a little too tired. I took some pictures of the work we had done and then packed up. We walked down the trail and stopped at the pile of brush. We again removed most of the loose branches by picking them up and throwing them or by dragging them off the trail. We finished up and started back down the trail toward Iron Wheel junction. At the trail junction, we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. Walking downhill was easier than the walk out and we kept a good pace. We walked down the wet and muddy trail, crossed the stream, and walked through the spruce tunnel. When we came out from under the trees, the sun was just beginning to peek through the clouds. We continued on the trail passing the junction with the Big Rock Trail. When we came to the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond, we continued on the trail as I did not feel the need to take pictures. The little hill from the pond to the top let me know how tired I was. At Gravestone Junction, I looked at the birch trees and decided they could wait until another trip. We walked along the Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area trying to avoid the mud and water. We were back at the car at 3:00 PM after spending 3 hours and 30 minutes hiking and clearing the blowdowns. The temperature was 60 degrees and the skies were beginning to clear. I drove back toward Livingston Manor. When we gained cell service, I found out there had been no ambulance calls.

On Monday, June 10th, I wanted to get in a hike with Cindy. Cindy likes flat hikes so I suggested the Parksville Rail Trail from Fox Mountain Road to Parksville and back. I wasn't sure there was another EMT available but I knew I had to get out for my own health. I hoped we could get in a hike for about an hour without missing any calls. The Parksville Rail Trail is under three miles out and back. By the time we started to get ready at 12:15 PM the temperature was right around 66 degrees on the back porch with blue skies and puffy white clouds in one direction and dark cloud layers in the other. As we were getting dressed, Sheila alternated between us so she could keep an eye on both of us. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. This combination is warmer than what I had been wearing but the temperature was cooler. 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 MicroVario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I intended to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be some water and mud on the trail but I somehow forgot them. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 12:30 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 when we arrived. It looked like driver was taking a nap. I left my phone in the car so that I could enjoy the hike. We started out on the trail at 12:45 PM under variable skies.

The first part of the trail was dry with the sun on the gravel and a slight breeze. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler and the trail was about as I expected with a few wet spots and some 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. The water level in the stream was lower than the last time we had hiked along the trail. We passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. The trail was completely free of branches and even the smallest twigs. I stopped at the area just before the wooden walkways and bridge and decided to take some shots of the stream and the clouds in the sky. The skies were dark and I thought it might rain at any time. The walkways had been raked and swept so they were free of wet leaves and mud. We walked passed several trees that had been cut and cleared. We came to the mudslide that had brought several trees down across the trail. All of these trees had been cut with a chainsaw and removed. Just after this area was another tree that a crew had cut and cleared. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls were just ahead. When we got to the falls, Sheila and I started down the trail to the bottom of the falls. The volume of water was lower than on previous hikes but the way the water was flowing created an interesting effect. At the bottom I removed my pack and got out my camera. I took some pictures downstream and then turned my attention to the falls. I shifted position to take more shots upstream. I used different zooms to get shots from different zooms and angles. I took shots encompassing the entire scene and then several close-ups of the main falls and the rapids below it. I like the noise of the falls and the volume of water which exude power but also bring me peace. Sheila hopped up on a rock in the stream and I took some shots of her. When I was finished, I packed up and walked back up the path to the trail where we met Cindy at the picnic table. I took some pictures of the falls from above and some upstream of the falls and rapids. We continued on the trail toward Parksville.

The weather was really excellent and the clothes I had worn were perfect. I had prepared for insects but there were only a few along the length of the stream. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail passing some rundown and dilapidated buildings which should be removed. Several of the buildings showed that work was being done on them. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. We also had to endure the pack of barking dogs that always greets us. The owner was lying on a lounger apparently trying to get a tan! Thu time he did not even try to quiet the dogs that always ignored him. 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. After a brief pause, we turned around and began the walk back on the trail. The return trip went more quickly as we did not stop for me to practice my photography. We passed the falls and kept up our fast pace. It was still very warm but it did not look like it would rain. When we broke out of the trees into the sun, we could feel the warmth of the sun. We arrived back at the car at 2:05 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 and 20 minutes. I checked my phone and there had been no ambulance calls while we were on the trail.

On Wednesday, June 5th I planned to get out for a hike at Frick Pond to remove and clean up some blowdowns with Cindy. Unfortunately, I could not find an EMT to cover ambulance calls so I had to stick around town. I did some work at the ambulance building and at home before deciding that going to hike on Round Top was better than not hiking at all. At 1:00 PM I began to get ready with the temperature at 85 degrees on the back porch with blue sunny skies. As I began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed as she would hike every day. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top with a short-sleeved 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 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, by 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 fail. I did not put on gaiters as I knew the trails would be almost dry. I took my cell phone with me because even though I planned to hike quickly, I was pretty sure I was the only EMT around to respond. At 1:25 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for a little over an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I did stop not on the way to the top of the hill. I could really feel that I had been hiking more consistently. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. The skies were a mixture of clouds and sun. Everything was really green caused by the recent rains and the sunshine on other days. Standing in the sun at the top of the hill made me believe the temperature really was 85 degrees! We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves and completely dry.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, Sheila turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a number of small branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches by dragging them off the trail. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. Ferns and grasses were growing like crazy and some bushes were growing a little into the trail. I liked the experience of walking the narrow track. At the end of the woods road, we turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see that the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves" were gone. It looked like someone had cleaned up the area. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail where we turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We came to the next junction with the blue trail and turned right to head up the blue trail toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we passed over the summit, I noticed that the trail showed much less wear and I assumed fewer people were taking the time to walk this trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top toward the next junction with the blue trail. At the next junction, we turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued downhill. Everything was very green especially the ferns which had sprung up since my last visit.

When we reached the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. This trail was very dry and the leaves made it very slippery. We immediately turned around and started back up the trail. I could feel that I was less out of shape and I did not have to stop to get up the hill. We ignored the trail to the lower lookout and followed the yellow trail. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top until we arrived at the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left to start the walk up the blue trail toward the summit. I was going to simply continue over the summit but Sheila had other ideas. Sheila turned left on the white crossover trail as if she wanted to make sure I inspected it. We continued to walk along the white trail until it met the main blue trail on the other side of the hill. There were no blowdowns blocking the trail. We turned left and left again on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top. At the junction, Sheila and I turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill and crossed the parking lot to the road. I put Sheila on her leash as cars do not respect the speed limit on Rock Avenue. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 2:35 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes. It was a pleasant hike and there had been no ambulance calls!

On Friday, May 31st I had planned to get out and do a hike I had not done in some time. The day looked beautiful and I asked Cindy if she wanted to go for a walk at Huggins Lake. She agreed even though the hike has a long uphill stretch out and back. This hike is about 4 miles and is always deserted. We began to get ready at 10:45 AM when the temperature was 72 degrees on the back porch. As soon as we started to get ready, Sheila began to run around and bark anticipating getting out of the house. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top with a short-sleeved 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 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, by 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 fail. I put on my OR Bugoff gaiters to combat the ticks which have been plentiful this year. I got our gear in the car and Sheila in the backseat. We left Livingston Manor at 1:05 PM and drove north on Old Route 17. I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and left on Campsite Road. At the bottom of the hill I turned right and drove down to the campgrounds parking area and across the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. At the end of the road I turned right and followed Berry Brook Road to the trailhead for Huggins Lake. We arrived at the road to the parking area to find it very rough with a lot erosion. I decided to give it a try and was able to get to the parking lot. We were surprised to see that there was one car already parked. As I was getting our equipment ready, two hikers came down the trail to the parked car. We said "Hello" as they were ending the hike we were just beginning. We started off our at 1:25 PM by walking through the metal gate on the woods road. Cindy warned me she might set a slower pace s she was having trouble with one foot but I didn't care as just wanted the exercise and relaxation. The sun had been out all day and the sky was a beautiful blue with a few white clouds. The temperature was 65 degrees as we headed out on the wide woods road to the lake. The hike isn't long, less than 4 miles, and the trail is maintained by the DEC and we saw a few blowdowns along the way that had been cleared. There were also two or three new blowdowns that had not been cleared.

The first 1.2 miles is all uphill and gains almost 700 feet. Sheila was running up and down the trail following game paths into the woods. I often wonder how many miles she puts on as I plod along the trails. At times she would come back and hike between Cindy and I usually right where Cindy was trying to walk. It seemed that despite Cindy's warning we were setting a fast pace. The ascent has several spots which appear to be the top of the climb but are not. After the initial climb, the trail descends, levels some and then climbs again until the final descent to Huggins Lake. There is a flat spot at the highest point which is about 20 feet long! As we continued, the trail made a sharp turn from southeast to north at about 1.6 miles. We enjoyed the downhill trek to the shores of the pond even though we had to walk around some small blowdowns on the trail. There were also a few muddy spots that were daily navigated. I have found the maintenance on the woods road to be spotty at best. I knew we would soon have to turn around and climb back up the hill. When we arrived at the lake, I noticed that the water level was high. I dropped my pack and got out my camera to take pictures of the lake. The sky was almost perfect except for the lack of puffy white clouds but the lighting was very good. I took some pictures of the lake and the hills that surround it. At the outlet I could immediately see that the beavers had dammed the water flow and that reeds had grown to all but block the outlet flow. Sheila took a dip in the water which was one of her first of the season. I took a few more pictures of the lake before returning to my pack and stowing the camera. Sheila had already taken a dip in the water and had also taken a drink! We spent about 10 minutes at the lake and then packed up and started up the hill. The only negative point about Huggins Lake is that there is only one trail and so there are no variations available. I had thought about bushwhacking around the lake but the ascent on the other side is very steep. The ascent on the woods road went smoothly for the most part as we climbed the hill back to the highest point on the trail. It was nice to have Cindy along for conversation and company. I let her lead on the way back and sheet outpaced me at most times. From there we started down the other side of the hill on the trail. Downhill was definitely easier than uphill! Sheila seemed very interested in following game trails off the main trail and I had to keep calling her back. From the highest point it was all downhill to the car. We arrived back at the car at 3:30 PM after hiking 4 miles in 2 hours and 5 minutes with a total elevation gain of 920 feet.

On Wednesday, May 29th I wanted to get out for a longer hike after ambulance calls and rain for almost a week. Incredibly there were no ambulance calls in the morning. I did some work around the house and ambulance building before returning hoe and getting ready to hike. I started getting ready at 11:15 AM with the temperature at 73 degrees. I took a chance and asked Cindy if she would like to hike and she declined because she thought it might rain. I have found that it might rain many days during the spring and summer and the only way to get in hikes is to ignore that fact. I decided to hike the Parksville Rail Trail from Parksville toward Livingston Manor and perhaps visit some waterfalls along the way. I got dressed in my White Sierra light crew top with a short-sleeved 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 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, by 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 fail. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put on my OR Bugoff gaiters to combat the ticks which have been plentiful this year. At 11:35 AM I put my gear in the car and Sheila 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. There was a car ahead of me that motioned me on but eventfully turned into the parking lot. The other car parked and two people got out and immediately started hiking the rail trail toward Parksville. I put Sheila on her leash for the short road walk to the beginning of the trail heading toward Livingston Manor.

We started out at 11:50 AM with the temperature right at 72 degrees. A slight breeze was blowing but the skies were bright, blue, and sunny. We walked on Service Road toward Fox Mountain Road and turned left on Fox Mountain Road and walked under the Quickway. We walked back to the intersection of Fox Mounatin Road and Benton Hollow Road and hopped the guard rail and 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. 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! The land dropped off steeply to the Little Beaverkill on the right. The stream volume was very high from the rains during the last few days. There were many rapids along the way which I did not remember from previous trips. On the left were some "cliffs" which were the result of the railroad cutting a path for the tracks. In some places there was water coming down off the ledges in small waterfalls. There were several large blowdowns along the way since this part of the trail is not maintained. We continued to walk along the well-defined trail. It was a pleasant walk without many insects which surprised me. There were a few small blowdowns on the trail which could be removed with hand tools. I walked over or around these and removed some small branches on the trail as we walked. The trail was damp in me places and muddy in a few others. There are two places along the trail where there are piles of garbage. It is hard to determine why they are there. Both piles have tarps over them which seemed to indicate someone once valued the items. A VW bug was just over the bank on the right after the first pile of debris. We soon came to a gate on the trail which was odd since it was state land. No one seems to know why the gate is there or who placed it. There was a sizable muddy area here but we walked across it without problems. We walked around the gate and continued on the trail. There was a path to the left just after the gate. It looked interesting but we stayed on the rail trail.

Soon we came to a small pond on the right with a red building behind it. The building looked to be in good shape but the windows were all boarded up. There was a definite path between the pond on the right and the wetlands on the left of the trail. It looked like a beaver trail to me but I could not see any dam, lodge, or even any trees that the beavers had cut. We continued to walk and I spotted some trees that the beavers had felled. The volume of the pond on the left was greatly reduced and the wetlands in the left were drying out. I thought that someone may have removed the beaver dams farther down the stream that were impounding the water. After hiking about 1.3 miles, we came to a driveway on the left which leads to the Sonoma Falls property. I knew this was private land but two town supervisors had said it was probably alright to visit it. 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 at least five 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. I noticed that the roof on the main building was collapsing which made me sad. I had hoped someone would buy the property and restart a business there. We walked to the stream just behind the building and I got my first look at the falls. They had not changed much since the last time I was there. There was a falls right in front and one visible farther upstream. I started taking the first of what would be a large number of pictures. I perched on some rocks and got a nice shot of three sets if falls. I also took some shots in the other direction to capture the blue skies with puffy white clouds. We turned right and started up the trail. I stopped because I found a nice view of the lower falls. I took the time to take some more shots here. I was glad that the sun was in just the right position to illuminate the falls but not so bright enough to spoil the pictures. We continued to walk the trail up to the second falls and I found a way to get off trail and down to the level of the stream to get some clear shots. 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 back up to the trail and a little farther upstream to the third set of falls. I again found a spot where I could get some shots by working my way down the bank. When I was done, we continue to walk and came to a small pond at the base of the highest falls so far. I took some wide angle shots and some that were zoomed in. The sun was at just the right angle to illuminate the falls but not to spoil the pictures. We walked along the shore of the pond and stream until I found a bother viewpoint on the remind of what looked like an old dam. I took some more shots from this viewpoint and the packed up and looked for a way to get up the bank. I wanted to get some shots of the upper falls so we walked up the steep path a short way.

I was able to take some shots of the upper falls from just passed a fence that once restrained people from getting too close to the edge. When I was done, I thought about walking down to the streambed but decided I would head upward. We walked up the steep hill toward the top of the last falls. A short walk brought us to the top of the falls where there was a bridge across the stream! Beyond this was a small pond with a dam but it was marked with "No Trespassing" signs. We walked to the top of the last falls and I got out my camera to take pictures from the high bank. Sheila likes to get right to the edge and it drives me crazy. I took some pictures and the walked over to a view of the wide, flat rocks that make ho the brink of the falls. These rocks were wet and covered in very green moss. I took pictures of the brink of the falls and the moss covered rocks. I walked along the edge of the chasm and found a way to take some pictures of the falls by hanging on to a tree and leaning out over the chasm. When I had exhausted all the possible shots, I packed up and walked back to bridge. I took a few pictures of the bridge and the small falls that were formed by the dam above the bridge. We turned around and continued to a sign at the trail junction. Instead of turning left to follow the trails back the way we had come, we continued straight ahead following yellow markers. The markers followed another woods road and were pretty clear until I looked ahead and could not see the anymore. This area was very wet and muddy in many different places but I decided to keep going. I followed Sheila who seemed to be able to find the trail. We came to a point where another woods road turned left and also where I also found more yellow markers. The yellow markers continued for a short distance down the hill until the woods road ended at another woods road. We had the choice of going left or right. I knew that turning left would take us back to the cider mill and I decided to go this way as I had not done that before. This might have been a mistake as the trail was very wet and muddy and at one large blowdown which was difficult to get around. Eventually we were back at the trail leading up from the coder mill. We turned right and walked back down passed the mill to the rail trail. I considered turning left and walking out to Old Liberty Road just to add some distance. In the end, we turned right on the rail trails as there really is nothing to see in the other direction. I stopped to take a few shots of the red barn and pond before packing up and continuing the hike. We began a fast-paced walk back to the car with Sheila running ahead and coming back to me many times. Sheila is 12 years old but still likes to get out and follow her nose. We were back at the car at 1:40 PM having hiked about 4 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes with some stopped time for photography. The ascent was 330 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! It seems my hope that someone would reopen Sonoma Falls is probably not going to happen.

On Friday, May 24th I wanted to get out for a longer hike after days of church and ambulance corps commitments. I considered a high peak but got a late start vacate of an early morning ambulance call. I decided to hike at Hodge and Frick Ponds hitting the lookout above Hodge to add to the big loop around both ponds. I started to get ready at 10:15 AM when the temperature was 68 degrees on the back porch. I knew it might be cooler at the trailhead so I put on my White Sierra long-sleeved crew top over a short-sleeved 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. I decided to put on my new 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, by 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 fail. I also added my OR floppy hat which I have decided shields me from the sun and allows me to spray some insect repellant on it rather than on me. I put on my OR Bugoff gaiters to combat the ticks which have been plentiful this year. I got my gear in the car and put an excited Sheila in the back seat as I drove out the DeBruce Road toward Frick Pond at 11:30 AM. After about 6 miles, I turned left on the Mongaup Pond and stayed left on Beech Mountain Road at the fork. There was only one car parked in the big lot and none in the smaller lot as I pulled in at 11:45 AM. I set my GPS and we started our hike by crossing the road and headed out on the Flynn Trail toward Hodge Pond. The trail really needs a good lopping as the rains and sun have caused the brush to grow into the trail. When we hit the wide woods road that is the Flynn Trail, we turned right and noticed that the grass was wet and there were some damp spots on the trail. The woods road once led to the Beech Mountain Boy Scouts Camp. The camp was serviced by the extension of Beech Mountain Road which is now the Flynn Trail. The temperature was 68 degrees but I was warming up as we hiked and I was glad I had dressed appropriately. The sun was out and and the skies were blue but there were almost no clouds for contrast. We were keeping a pretty fast pace but it didn't seem to bother me. The trail was very narrow and the grass very high as if not many people had hiked the rail recently. We passed the ledges and high rocks on the right side of the trail. At 1.2 miles we passed the clearing on the right side of the trail. I was surprised that we had arrived so quickly! I have never heard a definitive explanation for the existence of the clearing but I suspect it was stripped of dirt to build Beech Mountain Road. In most places there is very little topsoil and the bedrock is close to the surface. We continued on the main trail and headed for the junction with the Big Rock Trail. Along the way I removed some large branches that had fallen on the trail. It took us only 50 minutes to reach the first trail junction with the Big Rock Trail at 1.7 miles into the hike. I had intended to hike at a relaxed pace so I was happy with the pace.

We continued straight ahead on the Flynn Trail until we came to the gate that separates state land from Beaverkill Valley Trust property. We walked around the gate and in a relatively short time, we arrived at the point where the Flynn Trail bears left down to Hodge Pond. We turned right on the woods road toward the site of the Boy Scout camp and the lookouts on Beech Mountain. The woods road we were walking on was once Beech Mountain Road leading to the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp. After a short walk, another woods road trail turned off to the left to go down to the pond and the road we were on continued straight ahead. Another road was sandwiched in between the two and leads to the site of the former Boy Scout camp which has been leveled by the Beaverkill Valley Land Trust. We continued straight ahead on the road that started up the hill. The road was mostly bare gravel and dry except for a few damp spots. The road did not appear to have been traveled recently. The road grade is not very steep but is definitely not flat. We passed a spring house on the right and Sheila stopped to get a drink. The grade became steeper as we climbed the hill and at about 2.6 miles the road made a sharp turn to the right. The small viewpoint on the left was almost completely grown in so I did not stop to take picture. We continued on the road and followed it as it made another sharp turn, this time to the left. I planned to return on the trail that went off to the right at this point. The trail circles Beech Mountain which is the highest point in Sullivan County. We walked up hill briefly and then downhill on the road toward another lookout. I had been seeing indications that there had been a truck on the road. When we arrived at the viewpoint, which is near a small cabin, there were no vehicles and no people at the cabin. I took off my pack to get some pictures. This lookout has views from Balsam Lake Mountain through Slide all the way to Peekamoose. The leaves were all various shades of green which I usually find boring but this time it did not stop me from taking pictures. I took quite a few shots and then we continued our hike by walking uphill on the road in a clockwise direction. We passed several tent platforms on the left and then came to a trail junction. We turned left to continue around Beech Mountain. As we walked there were some impressive ledges on the right side of the woods road.

We continued on the path around Flynn's Point on Beech Mountain until we came to the lookout over Hodge Pond on the left. When I walked out to the stone ledge that makes up the viewpoint, I could see that the this viewpoint was also beginning to grow in. I took several pictures at different zooms and at different angles. When I was done, I got a drink and ate a bar before I packed up. We continued in a clockwise direction around Beech Mountain on the woods road. When we came back to the "main" road we turned left and headed back downhill toward Hodge Pond. We continued on the road setting a quick pace down the hill. Sheila again stopped at the spring and this time dug at the opening to the culvert until water was freely flowing through it. At the base of the hill, we continued straight ahead passing by the first two roads on the right. We turned right on the woods road that leads down to Hodge Pond. We turned left when the road intersected a jeep trail and ended up at the outlet end of Hodge Pond. We walked over to the shore of the pond where I dropped my pack and got out the camera. Sheila decided to go wading and get a drink in the pond. The sky was blue but without the puffy white clouds that add detail and contrast. I noticed that the level of the pond was high and I turned my attention to the outlet end of the pond. Where there had been a stream from the outlet there was now pond. I looked toward the culvert under the trail and saw that the beavers had been at work damming the culvert and surrounding area. I took some pictures of this area before packing up and heading toward the outlet. I wanted to turn right and walk out on the Flynn Trail but there was no trail! I managed to walk along the dam which brought back many memories I had as a kid. I managed to stay on the dam and avoid stepping into the mud and was soon on the other side of the outlet. We continued along the Flynn Trail which was damp and muddy in spots. Soon we were at the point where the Flynn Trail bears left and start up the hill away from the pond. It didn't take us long to reach the gate that separates the Land Trust property from state land. We followed the trail as it turned left and headed toward Junkyard Junction. The large tree that had blocked the teal had been cut and the trail was open. This part of the Flynn Trail is relatively flat and lower than the surrounding ground. This means that the trail is usually wet and muddy. On this day, there was some mud but most places were drying up. I removed a few branches along the way. This part of the trail was also overgrown but could easily be cleared with loppers. We were soon at Junkyard Junction where we turned left on the Quick lake trail.

The walk on the Quick Lake Trail went quickly as it is mostly downhill. We began to run into a few small blowdowns and then more and more larger ones. Most we were able to walk over but a few required bushwhacking quite a bit to get around them. Some of these could easily be cleared with hand tools although having at least one helper would be an advantage. I began to plan who to ask to help. Other blowdowns could be cleared with hand tools but a chainsaw would be helpful. Several of the blowdowns needed a chainsaw. I knew I could contact Eric Stratton, the local ranger, for help. The going was a little slowed as we worked our way through these blowdowns. Eventually we were at Iron Wheel Junction where we turned right to stay on the Quick Lake Trail. I stopped to get a drink and finally apply some insect repellant as the mosquitoes were swarming. He continued downhill on the trail and found more blowdowns. This part of the trail often has standing water or stream of water flowing down the trail. There were damp areas and muddy areas but they weren't too bad and we were soon at the small stream across the trail. The level was low enough that I used some stones to cross it without getting wet. There were a few more muddy areas and a couple of big blowdowns on the way to Frick Pond. We passed through the spruce tunnel and broke out into the open. We continued on the trail and came to the junction with the Big Rock Trail. We crossed the two small ridges and were soon at the bridge over the outlet of Frock pond. I dropped my pack and got out my camera. I have plenty of pictures from this area but always want to take more. Everything was very green as I took shots from different zooms and angles. I turned to take some pictures downstream from the bridge. I noticed movement on the water which turned out to be a pair of ducks. I took some pictures of them and hoped they would come out OK. I packed up and we headed up the hill to Gravestone Junction. We passed through the junction and I noted the need for more lopping along the trail. A little further along, I looked up to see two dogs and three elope headed our way. Neither of the dogs were leashed so I led Sheila off the trail to allow them to pass. The group passed by us with their unleashed dogs trying to make contact with Sheila. We continued along the trail which was wet in places. We passed the trail register and headed back to the parking area. We were back at the car at 3:20 PM after hiking 8.6 miles in 5 hours and 40 minutes with 15 minutes of stopped time. This was good for an overall 2.0 mph pace. We also gained 1240 feet of elevation.

On Friday, May 17th I planned to get in a slightly longer hike with a little elevation gain. I knew that I might be the only EMT available to answer calls but I also knew that I feel better when I get out to hike. I have gotten into the habit of staying in Livingston Manor and taking short hikes so that I can respond to calls. This is not good for my physical or mental health! I asked Cindy if she would like to go to Trout Pond and she told me she was meeting someone who needed help getting their summer residence in shape. I began getting ready at 10:15 AM with blue skies, sun and a good number of puffy white clouds. As I was getting ready the temperature was 62 degrees. Sheila was pretty excited as she always is when we go hiking. She keeps sniffing my clothing and whining. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a short-sleeved baselayer. This combination is a little bit warmer and Would allow me to forego a jacket. 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 decided to put on my new 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, by 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 put on my OR Crocodile gaiters to deal with the mud that might be on the trail and the ticks that seemed to be plentiful this year. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 10:25 AM as I drove north on the Quickway towards Roscoe. I got off at exit 94 and headed north on Route 206 towards Downsville. After crossing the Rockland Flats and passing the Roscoe Nursing Home, I turned left on Morton Hill Road and drove to the intersection with Russell Brook Road. There were no cars sitting in the "lot" at the intersection of the two roads. People see the open space and park there without thinking about the fact that the land is private. I did not want to have to walk back up Russell Brook Road at the end of the hike so I decided to drive down the road to park in the lower lot. Russell Brook Road is a seasonal maintenance road and it did look like it had recently been maintained. There was a car parked at the camping area on the right side of the road just after the intersection. I drove a little further down the road and pulled over on the right at the viewpoint over the upper falls. I grabbed my camera from my pack and let Sheila out of the car. We walked down the steep bank to the viewpoint. I was surprised to see that the volume of water was lower than I thought it would be but I took some shots anyway. I walked back up the bank wondering about the low volume of water in the stream as there had been several rainstorms during the week. I drove down to the lower parking lot and parked the car next to two others.

I had not brought my GPS unit as we had done the hike many times before. We started our hike at 10:55 AM by walking down the woods road toward the bridge across Russell Brook. The road was almost dry with no mud. As we crossed the bridge, I could see that the brook wasn't very high which was surprising as there had been recent rain storms in many areas. I decided to go to the falls at the beginning of the hike rather than to save a visit for the return trip. The Japanese knotweed was just beginning to spring up but was already 3 or 4 feet tall and starting to encroach on the path. We turned to the right on the path that leads to the falls. The path was very narrow and overgrown despite an indication that people were visiting the area. I walked to the spot where the path descends to the streambed and walked down to the bottom. I put down my pack and got out my camera. I took some pictures of the falls at different angles and zooms. I also took shots of the stream. The volume was not as low as I thought but I realized that this area had not gotten much rain from the recent storms. I had Sheila pose in front of the falls and took some shots of her. I returned to my pack and put away the camera. We returned to the main trail where we turned right. 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 followed the main trail passed the register box and up the trail toward Trout Pond. The trail was almost dry which was a contrast to many times when it has been wet and muddy. I did notice that wherever the trail was damp or muddy that there were tire tracks that formed an impression into the trail. Crews come to work on the bridge and lean-tos and do a great job but cause problems on the trails which they do not fix.

We continued on the trail toward Trout Pond. I weren'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. We could hear the outlet stream from Trout Pond. Soon we were at the outlet end of the pond and we walked over to the shore where the water was low enough to have a nice "beach". I dropped my pack to take pictures of the lake. The skies were now overcast with the clouds merging although the sun was shining through in places. The leaves had exploded over the last few days and there was a lot of green around the pond. I kept seeing new shots to take. Sheila took a quick dip in the water and I took a few pictures. I packed up and we returned to the main trail to walk the flat woods road toward the inlet end of the pond. This trail is always wet but on this day the large ponds that had been present the last time were almost dry! I looked up to see a couple hiking ahead of us. Soon we caught up to them and I said "Excuse me!" Which seemed to scare both of them. I apologized and Sheila and I passed them. The small stream just before the trail junction near the leanto was easily crossed as it was almost dry. When we came to the bridge, I stopped to take a few pictures of the pond from just before the bridge and from the bridge itself. We crossed the bridge and stayed to the right on the Mud Pond Trail which would take us over Cherry Ridge and form our loop back to the parking area. The trail was nearly dry but very rocky as we started to ascend the hill. My left foot was a little sore as I am nursing a ganglion cyst that was grown worse. As we continued up the trail, we both slowed a little as the grade increases. There had been some very large trees across the trail but they had been cut by a DEC crew or the rangers. There was one new, large blowdown and a few smaller ones. There were two trees leaning across the trail. These trails are maintained by the DEC so they are not cleared as often as those that are the responsibility of NYNJTC volunteers.

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 2.3 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 surprised that I was not getting tired on the climb which made me feel great. As we started down the other side, the trail was damp in spots but there was no standing or running water which I have come to expect. The relatively dry conditions continued for the rest of the trip making the hike more enjoyable than some of the last outings here. We ascended a small hill to the stand of small birch trees and then descended the other side where there was some mud. At 3.7 miles we had descended 420 feet from Cherry Ridge to the snowmobile trail near Mud Pond. I could see that the trail was just damp so we stayed on the woods road. We ascended a small hill before starting downhill back toward the parking area. As usual this section had some running water across it and some running down the trail. All told, we dropped another 380 feet over the next .7 miles back to the bridge just before the trail register. We crossed the bridge over the outlet stream and continued on the trail to the junction. We turned right and continued on the main trail toward the parking area. We continued across the bridge and up the trail to the parking area where there were now two different cars parked. We were back at the car at 1:15 PM and we had hiked 4.3 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes with an elevation gain of 863 feet. We had stopped many times for pictures and to look around.

On Tuesday, May 14th I planned to get out for a hike but two ambulances calls in the morning pushed it off until the afternoon. At 1:45 PM I began to get ready with the temperature at 76 degrees on the back porch with blue sunny skies. As I began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed as she would hike every day. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer due to the warm temperature. 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 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, by 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 did decide not to wear my Mammut hoody but wished I had a lighter jacket I like. I decided to take my Leki MicroVario poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on gaiters as I knew the trails would be almost dry. I took my cell phone with me because even though I planned to hike quickly, I was pretty sure I was the only EMT around to respond. At 2:05 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for a little over an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I did stop not on the way to the top of the hill. I could really feel that I had been hiking more consistently. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. The skies were a mixture of clouds and sun. Everything was really green caused by the recent rains and the sunshine on other days. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves and damp in some places.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, Sheila turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a number of small branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches by dragging them off the trail. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. At the end of the woods road, we turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see that the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves" were gone. It looked like someone had cleaned up the area. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail where we turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We came to the next junction with the blue trail and turned right to head up the blue trail toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I removed a couple of branches from the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top toward the next junction with the blue trail. At the next junction, we turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued downhill.

When we reached the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the trail. I could feel that I was out of shape but I did not have to stop to get up the hill. We ignored the trail to the lower lookout and followed the yellow trail. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top until we arrived at the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left to start the walk up the blue trail toward the summit. I was going to simply continue over the summit but Sheila had other ideas. Sheila turned left on the white crossover trail as if she wanted to make sure I inspected it. We continued to walk along the white trail until it met the main blue trail on the other side of the hill. There were no blowdowns blocking the trail. We turned left and left again on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top. At the junction, Sheila and I turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill and crossed the parking lot to the road. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 3:15 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes. It was a pleasant hike and there had been no ambulance calls!

On Monday, May 13th, I wanted to get in a hike with Cindy. Cindy likes flat hikes so I suggested the Parksville Rail Trail from Fox Mountain Road to Old Liberty Road. For some reason Cindy was not too keen on the hike in that direction and suggested we repeat the Fix Mountain Road to Parksville section. I responded that I was getting bored with this section but Cindy suggested we could cut the new blowdown near the Fox Mountain end. I wasn't sure there was another EMT available but I knew I had to get out for my own health. I hoped we could get in a hike for about an hour without missing any calls. The Parksville Rail Trail is under three miles out and back. I thought the stream might be high due to the recent rain which would make the falls interesting. By the time we started to get ready at 11:15 AM the temperature was right around 62 degrees on the back porch with blue skies and puffy white clouds. As we were getting dressed, Sheila alternated between us so she could keep an eye on both of us. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top without a baselayer. This combination is not as warm as what I had been wearing and is appropriate for the warmer weather. 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 MicroVario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I did don my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat. I intended to wear my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be some water and mud on the trail but I somehow forgot them. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 11:35 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 were two cars parked in the lot when we arrived. It looked like the two drivers were getting ready to go fishing. I left my phone in the car so that I could enjoy the hike. We started out on the trail at 11:50 AM under sunny skies which were blue with puffy white clouds.

The first part of the trail was almost dry with the sun beating down on the gravel. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler and the trail was about as I expected with a few wet spots and some 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. The water level in the stream was a little higher than the last time we had hiked along the trail. We passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. The trail Iwas completely free of branches and even the smallest twigs. Within a few minutes, we came to a single small tree leaning over and across the trail. I took out my Silky Sugowaza and cut the top off the tree. I pulled that section off the trail and then made another cut over the fence on the right side of the trail. This section came away quickly and I threw it over the bank on the left side of the trail. The whole job took 10 minutes and we were moving again. I stopped at the area just before the wooden walkways and bridge and decided to take some shots of the stream and the clouds in the sky. The walkways had been raked and swept so they were free of wet leaves and mud. We walked passed several trees that the crew had cleared and came to the mudslide that had brought several trees down across the trail. All of these trees had been cut with a chainsaw and removed. Just after this area was another tree that the crew had cut and cleared. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. When we got to the falls, Sheila and I started down the trail to the bottom of the falls. At the bottom I removed my pack and got out my camera. I took some pictures downstream and then turned my attention to the falls. I shifted position to take more shots upstream. I used different zooms to get shots from different zooms and angles. I took shots encompassing the entire scene and then several close-ups of the main falls and the rapids below it. I like the noise of the falls and the volume of water which exude power but also bring me peace. Sheila hopped up on a rock in the stream and I took some shots of her. When I was finished, I packed up and walked back up the path to the trail where we met Cindy at the picnic table. I took some pictures of the falls from above and some upstream of the falls and rapids. We continued on the trail toward Parksville.

The weather was really excellent and I almost took of the hoody. I had prepared for insects but there were only a few along the length of the stream. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail passing some rundown and dilapidated buildings which should be removed. Several of the buildings showed that work was being done on them. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. We also had to endure the pack of barking dogs that always greets us. The owner came out but as usual the dogs ignored him! 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. After a brief pause, we turned around and began the walk back on the trail at 12:40 PM. The return trip went more quickly as we did not stop for me to practice my photography. We passed the falls and kept up our fast pace. It was still very warm but a slight breeze had come up. When we broke out of the trees into the sun, we could feel the warmth of the sun. We arrived back at the car at 1:15 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 and 25 minutes. I checked my phone and there had been no ambulance calls while we were on the trail.

On Thursday, May 9th, I wanted to get in a hike on the Parksville Rail Trail as I had not been out for a week. I wasn't sure there was another EMT available but I knew I had to get out for my own health. The Parksville Rail Trail is under three miles out and back. I thought the stream might be high due to the rain this week. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed. I had an ambulance call in morning and then had to run some errands. By the time we started to get ready at 2:25 PM the temperature was right around 65 degrees on the back porch. The skies were overcast and the forecast included showers in the afternoon. As we were getting dressed, Sheila alternated between us so she could keep an eye on both of us. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. This combination is not as warm as what I had been wearing and is appropriate for the warmer weather. 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 MicroVario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I did not need my Mammut hoody. I did not put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would not be much water or mud on the trail. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 1:30 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 no cars parked in the lot when we arrived. I left my phone in the car so that I could enjoy the hike. We started out on the trail at 2:45 PM under overcast skies.

The first part of the trail was almost dry with a few damp spots. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler and the trail was about as I expected with a few wet spots and some mud. I was surprised that 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. At one point we looked up to see four people walking toward us. I took Sheila off to the side of the trail until they had passed with a "Hello". Since there was no car in the lot where we had parked, I assumed they had parked in Parksville and were hiking out and back. We passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. The trail I was completely free of branches and even the smallest twigs. I stopped at the area just before the wooden walkways and bridge and decided not to take any shots of the stream. The walkways had been raked and swept so they were free of wet leaves and mud. We walked passed several trees that the NYSEG crew had cleared and came to the mudslide that had brought several trees down across the trail. All of these trees had been cut with a chainsaw and removed. Just after this area was another tree that the crew had cut and cleared. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. When we got to the falls, I could see that the level of the water in the stream was lower than expected. This did mean that some of the drops in the rapids seemed greater. I decided that I had a great many pictures of the falls and that I would not take any this time. We continued on the trail toward Parksville.

The weather was really excellent; not too warm and not too cool. I had prepared for insects but there were only a few along the length of the stream. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail passing some rundown and dilapidated buildings which should be removed. Several of the buildings showed that work was being done on them. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. We also had to endure the pack of barking dogs that always greets us. The owner came out but as usual the dogs ignored him! 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. Without pausing, we turned around and began the walk back on the trail at 3:14 PM. The return trip went more quickly as we did not stop. Just before we passed the falls, we met the four hikers on their return trip. We kept up our fast pace as this helps make the hike worthwhile despite the short distance. When we broke out of the trees, we could barely feel Amy increase in temperature. We arrived back at the car at 3:43 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 58 minutes. I checked my phone and there had been one mutual aid ambulance call which had been cancelled.

On Thursday, May 2nd I wanted to get out for a longer hike to a 3500 peak. I considered Panther and Slide and had settled on Panther by way of Giant Ledge. An early morning ambulance call changed my mind. My changed plans included hiking the Touch-Me-Not Trail from Big Pond to the summit of Touch-Me-Not Mountain to remove any blowdowns that I could find. From there I planned to continue to the Little Pond Trail to return by way of that trail and the roads from Little Pond to Big Pond. The forecast was for a warm and clear day without any rain. When I started to get ready at 10:15 AM it was 79 degrees on the back porch. I maintain the Finger Lakes Trail from Beech Hill Road over Cabot Mountain over Touch-Me-Not Mountain to big pond and then on to Alder Lake. This is about 7 miles of trail which includes some interesting climbs and some flatter sections. Most of the maintenance involves removing blowdowns and cutting back the nettles and briars. I put on my long-sleeved Mammut crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer underneath. 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 MicroVario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I knew I probably did not need my Mammut hoody but out in on anyway. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be some water and mud on the trail. I decided to take only one water bottle as the hike is less than 5 miles round trip. I packed my Silky Sugowaza curved saw which can handle surprisingly large trees. As we left Livingston Manor at 10:30 AM, the sun was shining brightly and I hoped for a productive trip. I drove up the Beaverkill Road with Sheila in the back seat more than ready to hike anywhere. We arrived at Big Pond at 10:45 AM to find no other cars in the lot but one parked by the side of the road. We began the hike at 0:50 AM with the temperature at 72 degrees with a bright sun in the sky.

We turned left off the road and started up the steep bank on a section of the Finger Lakes Trail. The trail was drier than I thought it would be and there were very few blowdowns. I did take the time to remove loose branches and some larger rotting logs from the trail. We hiked up the trail taking a few breaks now and then as heavier load and steeper trail were tiring me. I began to notice that the trail had some new markers which made it easier to follow. There were several places where large diameter trees had fallen across the trail and had been cut using a chainsaw. I assumed a DEC crew had been through in the fall. There are also a few places where there were some blowdowns across the trail. Most of these blowdowns were small but had many branches. For each one I took "before" pictures, cleared the blowdown using the saw, and took "after" pictures. The trail was obvious and very well-defined indicating increased use. Volunteers are no longer allowed to places trail markers as the DEC wants this done my rangers or foresters. The problem is that the rangers and foresters depend on volunteer reports! This seems like a cumbersome system which is borne out by the lack of blazes on many trails. As we hiked we came across at least two large blowdowns that could be removed by hand tools but would more easily be cleared with a chainsaw. The trail alternates between steeper areas and more level ground. I decided to continue to the trail junction with the Campground Trail just to make sure there were no other areas that needed attention. We walked to the highest point on the trail and then down to the junction and I found nothing. We turned right and started downhill heading toward Cabot Mountain.

There were a few branches and sticks to remove from the trail. The insects were starting to get thicker but a breeze came up and kept them at bay. We descended the trail as it passed between two large rocks. I stopped to take some pictures of the gap between the rocks. Sheila posed in the gap and I took some pictures of her. Just below these rocks there were some branches across the trail and I stopped to clear the mess. Once I was done we continued on the trail as it wound back and forth and up and down. I cleared a few more blowdowns before we arrived at the junction with the Little Pond Trail. Continuing straight ahead on the Touch-Me-Not Trail ascends Cabot Mountain. I considered hiking up to the viewpoint on Cabot and back down. In the end, I decided to skip Cabot Mountain as I was tired and had limited coverage for ambulance calls. There was a very large tree across the trail perhaps 24 inches in diameter. This one would definitely require a chainsaw! We turned left and walked along the woods road that is the Little Pond Trail. This trail had many blowdowns across it but it is the responsibility of the DEC to clear this trail. We walked downhill and soon neared the beaver pond. I was not going to stop but there weren't many insects so I stopped. I walked to the shore and found the level down a little. I took out my caners and photographed the pond with the ridge behind it. We walked back to the main trail and were soon at the trail around Little Pond. We turned right to walk around the pond. We walked out into the parking lot and then down the boat launch to the shore of the pond. Sheila immediately walked out into the water to wade some and get a drink. I again took out the camera and took pictures of the pond with Touch-Me-Not Mountain behind it. I took some pictures of Sheila in the water before packing up and continuing on the park road toward the dam. We walked to the left off the road and onto the trail that passes over the dam. I put down my pack and got out the camera. I took pictures of Cabot Mountain behind the head of the pond. I also got some shots of the beach and the pond. I put away my camera and we walked to the main parking area and then out the main gate. The campground was not open but there were DEC employees working on the grounds. The walk along the access road to the campgrounds is long without much to see but on this day it went quickly. We descended the final hill to Barkaboom Road where we turned left to head uphill back to the car. I did not put Sheila on her leash as she will stay just behind me with the clammed "With". I looked own to the stream and saw the stone structures I had observed before. I believe that this is the remains of a water powered wheel but I have no other information. The rest of the walk to the car went quickly. I put Sheila in the car and grabbed my camera to walk over to the shore of Big Pond. I took some shots and then returned to the car. I arrived back at the car at 1:05 PM. We had hiked 4.8 miles in 3 hours and 10 minutes including stopping to maintain the trail and take pictures.

On Monday, April 29th, I wanted to get in a hike on the Parksville Rail Trail as I had heard that a NYSEG volunteer crew had cleared it end-to-end on Saturday. I wasn't sure there was another EMT available but I knew I had to get out for my own health. The Parksville Rail Trail is under three miles out and back. I thought the stream might be high due to the recent rain which would make the falls interesting. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed. By the time we started to get ready at 9:45 AM the temperature was right around 80 degrees on the back porch. As we were getting dressed, Sheila alternated between us so she could keep an eye on both of us. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. This combination is not as warm as what I had been wearing and is appropriate for the warmer weather. 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 MicroVario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I did not need my Mammut hoody and this would be the first time I had not warn it since fall. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be some water and mud on the trail. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 10:05 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 were no cars parked in the lot when we arrived. I left my phone in the car so that I could enjoy the hike. We started out on the trail at 10:20 AM under sunny skies which were blue with puffy white clouds.

The first part of the trail was almost dry with the sun beating down on the gravel. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler and the trail was about as I expected with a few wet spots and some mud. I was surprised that 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. We passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. The trail I was completely free of branches and even the smallest twigs. I could see the tracks from a UTV that the NYSEG crew used when clearing the trail. I stopped at the area just before the wooden walkways and bridge and decided to take some shots of the stream and the clouds in the sky. The walkways had been raked and swept so they were free of wet leaves and mud. We walked passed several trees that the crew had cleared and came to the mudslide that had brought several trees down across the trail. All of these trees had been cut with a chainsaw and removed. I stopped to take some pictures of the now clear trail. Just after this area was another tree that the crew had cut and cleared. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. When we got to the falls, I could see that the trail to the bottom of the falls was in good shape. I took some pictures of the falls from the bank and then shifted position to take more shots upstream. Sheila and I walked over to the path down to the streambed and began the descent. Cindy decided to sit on the picnic bench at the top and wait for us. At the bottom I put my pack down and took out my camera. I took shots downstream and directly in front of me where the water was very clear. I then turned my attention upstream to the falls. I took shots encompassing the entire scene and then several close-ups of the main falls and the rapids below it. I like the noise of the falls and the volume of water which exude power but also bring me peace. Sheila hopped up on a rock in the stream and I took some shots of her. When I was finished, I packed up and walked back up the path to the trail where we met Cindy. We continued on the trail toward Parksville.

The weather was really excellent; almost too warm. I had prepared for insects but there were only a few along the length of the stream. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail passing some rundown and dilapidated buildings which should be removed. Several of the buildings showed that work was being done on them. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. We also had to endure the pack of barking dogs that always greets us. The owner came out but as usual the dogs ignored him! 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. After a brief pause, we turned around and began the walk back on the trail. The return trip went more quickly as we did not stop for me to practice my photography. We passed the falls and kept up our fast pace. It was still very warm but a slight breeze had come up. When we broke out of the trees into the sun, we could feel the warmth of the sun. We arrived back at the car at 11:45 AM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 and 25 minutes. I checked my phone and there had been no ambulance calls while we were on the trail.

On Friday, April 26th, I planned to do a hike to a 3500 foot peak. I chose Balsam Lake as it is close to my house and has a fire tower. I looked up the last time I had hiked a 3500 foot mountain and found I had not done one for all of 2023! Our ambulance calls sky-rocketed last year and I covered 760 calls meaning I averaged 2 a day. This is a lot for a volunteer in a volunteer agency! Fortunately, we have several more EMTs coming up and that will allow me to get back to hiking again. I had arranged for a driver and crew to cover calls so I was free to enjoy the hike. When I got up in the morning at 6:30 AM it was only 42 degrees so I knew I would need a jacket of some kind as the temperature at the trailhead would probably be cooler. The forecast was calling for temperatures to rise rapidly into the 60's. I was a little concerned about the hike as I did not know how I would handle the climbing and elevation gain but I knew BLM is relatively short. As I started to get ready at 9:15 AM Sheila was excited as she loves to be outside. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt 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 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 MicroVario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I did don my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat. This jacket has a hood but I decided to wear a light knit hat. I did put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I knew the trail might be wet and muddy from the recent rains. I put on my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat if necessary. I put my gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and left the house at 9:45 AM. I headed toward Roscoe on Old Rt 17 and I turned right on the Beaverkill Road. I headed north toward Lew Beach and Turnwood. The Beaverkill Falls were flowing freely with a goof volume from the recent rains. The road conditions were pretty good but deteriorated when the pavement ended. The roads were dry and there was a lot of dust. I passed the White Castle and the Buddhist monastery and continued on toward the trailhead.

When I got to the "Seasonal Maintenance" sign, I was happy but hoped there would not be many cars coming from the opposite direction. The road was narrow but in good condition despite the recent rains. We arrived at the parking area at 10:20 AM and found no other cars in the lot. I was a little surprised as it was Friday and the forecast was for a beautiful day. The temperature was 54 degrees. Sheila jumped out of the car and started to explore the parking area which was familiar. I decided to wear my Mammut hoody as I knew I could open zippers when I got warm and stow it in my pack if I needed to do so. The skies were bright blue without any clouds. I planned to take the hike slow as I wanted to make sure I did not tire myself out by going too fast. The trail was drier than I expected with out a few damp spots here and there. I noticed that several larger bloodworm had been cut and cleared and assumed a DEC crew had done the work. I stopped at the trail register to sign in. The trail register had been repaired from the pieces that were there on previous trips. As we walked up the trail, I noticed that it needed some trimming but was clear of major blowdowns. Walking was easy as the trail has only a slight incline until the turn up the mountain. I tried to keep a relaxed pace even though I felt I could have pushed harder. When got to the first trail junction, we started up the mountain and I could immediately feel the difference in the incline. I opened all the zippers on the hoody and was still warm.

The first part of the trail is a gentle climb and I was feeling pretty good with an occasional stop for less than a minute to catch my breath. The trail was mostly dry but there were a few damp spots. Over the next half mile the trail gains about 750 feet before leveling off which means an average of around a 28% grade! The trail has a lot of rocks and roots with more and more being exposed by the erosion caused by more people using the trail. I also noted the trail was getting wider as people were not sticking with the established route. Sheila is always able to hike faster than I can and she was running far ahead on the trails and then taking off following game trails through the woods. We kept moving along with Sheila always ahead but not too far which encouraged me. The climb seemed shorter than I remembered even though I had not tried a sustained climb like this in a long time. Several times I thought we were near the trail to the lean-to but had another steep section to climb. Finally we reached the trail to the lean-to and continued straight up the hill through a short but steep climb. We passed the 3500 foot sign and the trail became a small stream from the spring just above. We arrived at the spring which was actually flowing better than I had expected. Sheila got a drink and I took picture of her at the spring and the spring itself. We left the spring and climbed the stone steps to the summit plateau where the trail flattens a little. All the steps were very wet and I was careful to use the poles and be sure of my foot placement. Once we were on the flatter part of the trail, I felt much better since we were not climbing. I stopped to take a few pictures of the trail and the twisted trees all around us. On many peaks the 3500 foot elevation marks the beginning of the evergreen trees but not here. We continued on the trail and passed the Millbrook Ridge Trail to Alder Lake which is also the route of the FLT. I did stop to take a few shots of the trail through the balsam firs. As we continued on to the fire tower clearing, we passed the relocated privy on the right side of the trail. We arrived at the tower clearing at 11:45 AM after hiking 1.7 miles. The skies were still a bright blue but there were no clouds. There was a woman sitting at the picnic table so I put my pack down on the big rock. The woman and I exchanged greetings. She was from Margaretville and had parked at the Millbrook Road trailhead. I had not brought a leash for Sheila and resigned myself to the fact she would climb the tower with me. Unlike many other dogs, Sheila will climb all the way up the tower and back down! I walked over to the tower with my camera and started to climb. I saw that some of the steps had been replaced and were slightly wider and sturdier than the old ones. As I rose above the treeline, the breeze hit me and I raised my hood. I climbed to the top of the tower just below the locked cab. I took pictures of the surrounding landscape from the top of the tower in all directions. I missed having some puffy white clouds in the sky. I stopped on the landing just below the cab and looked around. The scene was beautiful and, as always, I knew that pictures could not do it justice. I took a number of shots of the trees and cabin below and then turned my attention to the mountains. I took shots in all directions getting pictures of the Devil's Path to the north and some of Graham. Eventually I was satisfied I had enough pictures and wanted to get back down. I walked back to my pack and put away my camera, took a drink and got out a bar.

The woman at the picnic table started out ahead of us and I wondered how long it would take for us to catch her. We headed down the Millbrook side of the mountain at 11:55 AM. We walked down the trail on the other side of the mountain passing the cabin. The trail was very dry on the descent and covered in many small rocks which made things very "slippery". We met one woman coming up the trail so I pulled Sheila off to the side as she passed. She told me that there was a group coming up the trail with three dogs! When the trail flattened some, we came to areas which are usually muddy and were muddy this time. On one of the descents, we passed the woman who had been at the picnic table. A little farther along we met another man hiking toward us and each of us said "Hello". As we came to another flat area, I saw what looked like a golden retriever approaching with the owner just behind. He called the dog but the dog ignored him. Fortunately, the dog seemed friendly and exchanged sniffs with Sheila. I stayed where I was as another woman approached and told me there were two more dogs on the way. I waited until the owner leashed the dogs and passed by us. We continued on the trail and soon we were approaching the junction with the Dry Brook Ridge Trail that connects Millbrook Road to the Beaverkill Road. We passed through the gate at the bottom of the trail. We came to the trail junction with Sheila in the lead and I said to her "Back to the car" without making any signal Sheila immediately turned right and walked down the trail! There was a sign at the junction warning hikers to stay on the trails and that Graham Mountain was closed to all hikers. The trail has a lot of rocks but they were mostly dry. There isn't much to see on this return trip so I set a faster pace. I looked down to the Gulf of Mexico below and marveled at the steepness and extent of the descent. We encountered places where there had been some blowdowns and all had been cut and removed from the trail. There were also a few new blowdowns which were smaller and could be cut with hand tools. I looked down into the Gulf of Mexico several times but did not see or hear any water. The trail, which had been very narrow, was wider since more people were using it. After just less than a mile, we were back at the trail junction where we had turned up the mountain earlier. We continued on toward the car by retracing our steps. Along the way we met a family of three from Livingston Manor enjoying the nice weather. I signed out at the trail register and we continued to the parking area. We were back in the parking area at 1:10 PM after hiking 4.5 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes with stops to rest, relax and take pictures. We had climbed 1200 feet in elevation. The temperature at the car was 62 degrees.

On Tuesday, April 23rd, I wanted to get out and do a longer hike after weeks of covering ambulance calls. I called another EMT to cover for me so I was free to spend several hours hiking. I thought about going to balsam Lake Mountain as I had not hiked a mountain in some time. In the end I changed my mind as the drive to Balsam Lake Mountain was too long. I also wanted a hiking companion and knew Cindy would not want to climb a mountain. I decided that Alder Lake would be nice so I asked Cindy if she would like to go. She said "Yes" and we started to get ready at 9:15 AM with the temperature in the high 50's and plenty of sun and blue skies. I thought we would hike to the Beaver Meadow Lean-to which would be better named the Beaver Pond Lean-to as the beavers have returned. They have built an impressive dam and there are at least two lodges. I knew I could extend the hike by going to the falls on Alder Creek downstream of the lake. Sheila was hovering around me as she can always detect when I am getting ready for a hike. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt with a long-sleeved 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 MicroVario poles I have been using for some time because they are light and lock without slipping. I did don my Mammut hoody which has lots of zippers to dump heat. This jacket has a hood but I decided to wear a light knit hat. I did put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I knew the trail might be wet and muddy from the recent rains. I got our gear and Sheila in my car and left Livingston Manor at 9:45 AM and drove north and west on Old Route 17 toward Roscoe. Just outside of town I turned right on the Beaverkill Road and headed north. I continued on the Beaverkill Road through Lew Beach and Turnwood toward Alder Creek Road where I made a left. I continued to the end on the road where I turned right toward Alder Lake. I drove up the access road very slowly as there are some very rough spots. When I got to the parking area there was one car in the upper parking area and one in the lower parking lot. The temperature was 54 degrees but the sun made it feel much warmer. The skies were bright and sunny with lots of blue but no puffy white clouds. We started out on the path toward the "lawn" at 10:05 AM.

We walked along the path which passes by the stone foundations which marks the last remnants of the Coykendall Mansion. The house had been built as a large hunting lodge and then was gifted to the Boy Scouts of America. When the state took over the property, the mansion fell into disrepair with campers tearing boards away to use for campfires. The state added a fence but it did not deter people so the house was eventually burned to the ground. As we walked down the right side of the lawn, I noticed that the grass was short as it had no grown up yet and the picnic tables that were present were easily accessible. I walked toward the dam and the "beach" where I normally take pictures. I took out my camera and snapped some shots of the lake and the hills around it. The sun was bright and was making it difficult to get good shots. The sunlight bouncing off the lake was causing the ripples in the water to sparkle. I was almost done photographing when two geese took off from shore and landed on the water. I took some shots as they swam away from shore. We walked across the lawn toward the trail around the left side of the lake and started walking east along the trail on the north side of the lake. The trail was wet in many places with a few muddy spots. The brush and branches that had overgrown the trail were now dead and the walking was much easier but some still hung in the path. This reminded me that I should call my maintainer for this trail to see if he intended to work on it. The small streams that cross the trail had some water in them. Sheila was happy to be out and ran ahead and then returned to us. Mostly she was happy to walk along between us. I began to remove small branches from the trail and moved one larger one. I stopped for a moment to take some pictures of Cradle Rock Ridge on the other side of the lake. There was also an old beaver lodge near the shore and I took some pictures.

We continued on the trail and we crossed the bridges on the trail near the head end of the lake. I could see the beaver dam that impounded some water from the inlet streams was still intact. I stopped to take pictures of the dam and the water behind it. We continued on the trail toward the junction with the Millbrook Ridge Trail. At the point where a path leads to the left to some primitive campsite, a large tree that had fallen across the trail was still lying on the ground. We were able to step over them but it was not easy. I could cut them with my hand tools but it would take a long time! I made a note to call the local ranger to see if we could schedule a time to remove them with a chainsaw. At the trail junction, we turned left to head toward the lean-to on the Millbrook Ridge Trail. The trail was wet in some places and muddy in quite a few areas. Fortunately, the trail showed more use than I had expected and was relatively clear of blowdowns and branches. There were a few small blowdowns which I removed from the trail. There were also some older and rotten trunks that I was able to move and this continued for the rest of the hike. I did find a few blowdowns that I had cut and a few more that should be cut. We crossed some streams that run across the trail and were now flowing nicely. Alder Creek had quite a bit of water and we could here it as it ran downstream over the rocks. The sunlight was sparkling off the water and the lack of leaves on the trees allowed us to get some great views. some of the large, older blowdowns which had been across the trail had been cleared. The trail is pretty obvious and the blazes easy to see in most places. For the next 1.5 miles the trail climbed and then leveled off several times. The elevation gain is several hundred feet but the grade is never more than 12% and averages around 6%. There isn't too much to see along the way but this day was very pleasant because of the temperature and my mood.

The trail leveled off at the first beaver meadow and I decided to walk out to the edge of the meadow to take some pictures. The meadow was larger than I had thought. I returned to the trail and we crossed a small stream. Sheila took the time to get a drink and splash in the water. At 2.2 miles we began the last climb and I found that the going was easier than I thought it would be. Cindy on the other hand was getting tired and wanted to stop and wait for me. I encouraged her and she continued to walk. As we started the climb, we came across a few more blowdowns. Soon we arrived at the beaver pond. Where there had once been a beaver meadow, there was now a pond with a dam and a beaver lodge. The pond was lower than the last time I had visited but still occupied the entire meadow. As we came to the spot on the trail opposite the beaver dam, I walked off the trail to the right and found a good viewpoint. I took pictures of the pond and the dam which I thought would be good as there were reflections in the pond. I also took some shots of the beaver lodge with the lean-to in the background. As I looked around I was overcome by the feeling of joy at seeing what God has created! I realized that the return trip would be much easier as it was almost all downhill. Cindy had walked along the shore of the pond to a big rock where she had seated herself for a snack. I sat down beside her and ate a bar and had a drink. It was 11:45 AM and it had taken us 1 hour and 40 minutes to get to the pond. Sheila decided to take a swim and then come shake herself off next to us. After we got a drink and a snack, Sheila began zooming around us and jumping over us. At 11:55 AM, we decided we would turn around and return to the car. We walked out to the main trail and turned left and started back to the parking area. The walk was all downhill or flat so it did go quickly. It also helped that I was not taking any pictures! We were soon at the loop trail around Alder Lake where we turned right to return the way we came.

We crossed the bridges and found an open view of Cradle Rock Ridge. We continued on the trail toward the parking area. We walked up the hill toward the ruins of the lodge and then toward the parking area. As we approached the parking area, I noted that it had taken only 70 minutes to walk back to the parking area. I decided I had just enough time to walk down to Alder Creek to visit the waterfalls and take some pictures. Cindy went to the car while Sheila and I turned left on the path that leads down to the spring and then right to walk downstream along the creek. I stopped when we came to the first small waterfall. I got out my camera and walked to the flat rocks along the streambed. I took some pictures of the rapids upstream and then walked a little farther downstream. I was able to get some shots of a small falls and one that is about 10 feet tall. I went back to my pack, stowed the camera and walked back up the bank to one of the woods roads. We walked downstream on the woods road until I found a path that I knew led down to the stream. We walked down the path to a viewpoint over the highest falls which drops about 20 feet. There was plenty of water flowing in the creek and the lighting was not too bad. I took a number of pictures including some of a smaller falls below the main one. When I was done, I decided it was time to go back to the car. We walked back up the path to the woods road and followed it back to the path and the parking area. We were back at the car at 1:20 PM after hiking 5.0 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes with 30 minutes of stopped time. The elevation gain was 800 feet. Our moving speed was 2 MPH.

On Monday, April 22nd I planned to get out for a hike but found that a member of Highland EMS would be at our building to respond to calls for their EMT class. I changed my plans, met with the EMT student and gave her a tour of our rigs. I waited around the rest of the day for a call and, fortunately, we got one a little after 1300. After returning from the call, I reviewed it with the student and we both left the building. I had almost given up on taking a walk but decided I would go across the street to hike on Round Top. At 4:15 PM I began to get ready with the temperature at 60 degrees on the back porch with partly sunny skies. As I began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed as she would hike every day. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer due to the warm temperature. 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 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, by 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 did decide to wear my Mammut hoody as I did not like many of the lighter jackets I have. The hoody has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did not bother with a hat or gloves. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not put on gaiters as I knew there would be no snow, ice or mud. I took my cell phone with me because even though I planned to hike quickly, I was pretty sure I was the only EMT around to respond. At 4:30 PM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about a little over an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I let Sheila off her leash so I could use my poles and did stop not on the way to the top of the hill. I could really feel that I had been hiking more consistently. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. The skies were a mixture of clouds and sun. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves and damp in some places.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, I said "Right" and followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a number of small branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. At the end of the woods road, we turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves". It looked like someone had cleaned up the area and might be using it again. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail where we turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We came to the next junction with the blue trail and turned right to head up the blue trail toward the summit. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I removed a couple of branches from the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top toward the next junction with the blue trail. At the next junction, we turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued downhill.

When we reached the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the trail. I could feel that I was out of shape but I did not have to stop to get up the hill. We ignored the trail to the lower lookout and followed the yellow trail. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top. We again passed under the blowdown and arrived at the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left to start the walk up the blue trail toward the summit. I was going to simply continue over the summit but Sheila had other ideas. Sheila turned left on the white crossover trail as if she wanted to make sure I inspected it. We continued to walk along the white trail until it met the main blue trail on the other side of the hill. There were no blowdowns blocking the trail. We turned left and left again on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top and under the blowdown on the trail. At the junction, Sheila and I turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill and crossed the parking lot to the road. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 5:40 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes. It was a pleasant hike and there had been no ambulance calls!

On Saturday, April 20th I was awakened by a morning ambulance call. When I went to sleep, it was still raining but when I woke up the rain had stopped and there was some sun along with clouds. When I returned home, I decided to go across the street and hike on Round top since I could still respond on calls. I began to get ready with the temperature at 53 degrees on the back porch. As I began to get ready, Sheila was running around barking at my every move as we had not been out for four days due to rain and other commitments. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt but 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 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, by 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 poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody for the pockets I needed to stow some gear. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I decided I did not need a hat or gloves. I brought along my phone in case there were any calls. At 11:30 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about a little over an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. The parking lot was packed with cars even though it was not Sunday. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. I released Sheila from her leash so I could use my poles effectively. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I did not have to stop once on the way to the top of the hill and the trip went quickly. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor.

We entered the woods at the trailhead and continued on to the first junction. The trail was damp and a little slippery in places. Sheila and I both seemed to have the same idea as I wanted to go straight up to the lookout and Sheila chose that path. Climbing the hill seemed easy but I did slip a few times. When we reached the top of the hill, we followed the yellow trail as it continued passed the upper part of the lookout. Where the trail turned right we followed it uphill passing through a large area of dead ferns. Some trees were showing what looked like buds which I took to be a sure sign of spring! We passed the sitting rock and continued uphill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. As we walked the old woods road, I found several bushes and small trees hanging into the trail. I made a note to bring a set of loppers next time. I also noticed that many of the paint blazes need a touch up. As we continued to the next junction with the blue trail, we came to the spot where a medium sized birch tree had fallen across the trail. On our last trip I had removed this blowdown from the trail. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned right to climb the trail toward the summit. We passed by the white crossover trail and continued over the summit. We started down the other side slipping a little and bypassing the white trail. We did turn left on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed it out into the woods and back again to the blue trail farther down the hill. We turned left on the main blue trail and walked downhill until we were back at the junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again walked along the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and started to walk down the trail to the woods road. Sheila and I started down the woods road at a quick pace passing another blowdown that had been lying across the trail. This larger blowdown I had also removed on our previous trip.

When we reached the first trail junction, I debated not doing another figure 8 as I was teaching a CPR course at 2:00 PM and wanted to go home to take a shower. I decided I wanted to get a little more exercise! We turned around and started back up the woods road we had just descended. We set a faster pace up the woods road and turned left to stay on the yellow trail as the woods road ended. At the junction with the blue trail we turned left to stay on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We walked passed by the fallen birch tree and passed by some bushes that were still hanging into the trail. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and began to ascend the hill. We turned right where the switchback led us out into the forest and then back to the main blue trail. We turned right and headed for the summit but immediately turned right on the white crossover trail. We walked along the trail checking for blowdowns and brush in the trail. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned right and headed down the other side. At the base of the hill we turned right on the yellow trail and again walked along the base of Round Top to the second junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and headed down the yellow trail toward the lookout. At the viewpoint where the yellow trail turned left we followed it and walked down the hill to the very first trail junction. We continued to walk straight ahead out to the trailhead where we turned right. I put Shiela on her leash and we walked downhill to the road behind the church. We walked out through the parking lot and across the street to our driveway. We were back home at 12:30 PM after hiking just over 2 miles in 1 hour.

On Thursday, March 14th, I wanted to get out for a short hike near home for the exercise and for the relaxation. I also knew that the forecast was for rain later in the week. I thought about going to the Beaverkill Campgrounds to see the level of the water in the stream after the recent rains. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she agreed. As we started to get ready at 12:00 PM the temperature was 58 degrees on the back porch with sunny skies and some puffy white clouds. As usual, Sheila was excited but was trying to be the "good dog". I got dressed in my Mammut crew top but decided against 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 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, by 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 poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody for the pockets I needed to stow some gear. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a light hat and took a pair of light knitted gloves which I knew I probably not need. I brought along my phone but resolved to leave it in the car as there is no service in the area anyway. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat and we left the house at 12:20 PM. I drove out Old Route 17 toward Roscoe and turned right on Beaverkill Road. As we started the descent into the Beaverkill Valley, I turned left on Campsite Road and followed it down to the parking area near the Beaverkill Covered Bridge. There was one car parked in the lot as I pulled in and parked. A glance at the river showed that the level was as high as it had been this year. The sandy beach was barely visible and the rock I usually stand on to take pictures was under a considerable amount of water.

We started our hike at 12:35 PM by walking out of the parking lot to the bridge with the temperature at 56 degrees. The bridge that had been closed after a car hit it and did some damage was now open. When we got to the other side, I looked at the trail and saw that it was completely bare but had some water running down and across the bottom of hill. We turned left on a woods road that parallels the river and started down the short hill. I had decided to take some pictures on the way out so when we got to the spring house on the right I stopped and got out the camera. I took some shots of the spring house and then turned my attention to the small stream that ran from it into the river. This shallow stream was covered in duck weed which was a bright green. I took several pictures at different zooms before packing up to continue the hike. When we got to the first culvert, I followed a path down to the edge of the stream. I took some pictures upstream catching the bridge and the white water of the rapids which were very pronounced. I took a few more shots with different zooms. I also took some pictures downstream and one of the water coming out of the culvert. When I was done, I packed away the camera and walked up to the woods road. We continued on the deserted woods road. We could hear the river and see the whitecaps on the water. I looked up to see a hiker coming toward us with his dog. We both paused to put our dogs on leashes and then passed by each other. Even though the landscape was bleak the sunlight and blue skies added an interesting dimension. The whole area had a serene feel enhanced by the sound of the flowing water. On the trail we passed by several areas with picnic tables. TheSe tables sit unused and rotting along the road, a testimony to better days when this area had camping areas. Now this area is used for day use. We walked by more tables which had not been used in years. A little later we came to what was once a bathroom for some campsites that had long since disappeared. There were more tables in this area. We stopped and I walked to the stream where rocks had been piled up and contained by wire screen. I walked to the edge and stood on some rocks to take more pictures of the stream in both directions. Sheila came over and stood on the wall next to me. The rapids in this area were really pronounced and the sunlight was playing off the water. I returned to the picnic table where I left my pack and took a few shots of the bathroom and the woods road before we continued on the woods road. At about .7 miles into the hike the woods road met the paved road that serves the campsites. I stopped to take some pictures of the campsites without any snow and with the lighting from the sun. We continued on the road through the campsites and along the river. Many of the campsites have a cement block fireplace with a grill but some were upgraded to poured concrete. Everything was very quiet except for the water in the river. This was not surprising as the campsites were closed. There were several trees that had been felled and bucked by state employees that maintain the campgrounds.

We walked along the paved road to the last campsite where the road ends and I walked down to the edge of the river. I was careful to watch where I was walking as I did not want to slip into the cold water. Sheila decided it was warm enough to take a swim! I tried to get a few shots of her in the water. I stopped to take some pictures of the river especially downstream. When Sheila came out of the water, she did not seem to be cold but did start to run around. We continued a little further passed the last campsite and walked a path along the river. I took some shots downstream where the river turned to the left. The water was very clear with a pronounced greenish tint from looking through to the bottom. As we walked back passed the last campsite, we continued on the campsite road toward the last bathroom. When the road split, we stayed to the left to walk the parallel section of road back through the campsites. This road parallels the one we walked out on to make a sort of loop. We stopped near the end of the road where it starts up to the Berry Brook Road. I wanted to explore the area along the ridge that parallels the road. It was clear to me that Cindy did not want to go on an adventure so we continued along the woods road. This had happened before so I knew that if I was going to explore it would have to be when Cindy was not with me. We returned the way we had come although at a quicker pace. We continued our hike and I began to look to the left where the land rose out of the valley to a ridge. I could see that the land leveled off part of the way up and then started up again. I had walked up a path to this area on a previous hike and had no intention of trying it again as I was looking for something new. I had wanted to start further back but will save that for another time. We passed the spring house on the main campsite road. We walked up the hill to the road and turned right to walk through the bridge. At the end of the bridge, we turned right to head back to the car. Cindy got in the car and I stowed my poles and my pack. I got out the camera and Sheila and I walked over to the river. It was hard to find a place to stand to take pictures. We worked our way across a finger of the stream to a spit of land near the rock where I normally stand. I took pictures downstream where the rapids were really rolling. When I was done, we took a different route back to the car. We were back at the car at 1:50 PM having hiked 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes with plenty of stopped time for pictures. The car's thermometer read 58 degrees.

On Tuesday, April 9th I planned to get out to trim some trees on Round Top and the Parksville Rail Trail. At 12:30 PM I began to get ready with the temperature at 76 degrees on the back porch with sunny skies. I knew the actual temperature would be lower as the sensor on the back porch is in the sun. I decided I would take Sheila with me and asked Cindy if she would like to come to help me trim the trees. I was a little surprised when she was not interested since we had a good time the last time we worked together. As I began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed as she would hike every day. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer due to the warm temperature. 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 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, by 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 did decide to wear my Mammut hoody as I did not like any of the lighter jackets I have. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a light hat but did not take any gloves. I decided not to take any hiking poles as I would be carrying an ax and saws. I did put on gaiters as I thought there might be some mud. I took my cell phone with me because even though I planned to hike quickly, I was pretty sure I was the only EMT around to respond. I put my Silky Sugowaza in my pack and brought my Fiskars ax which I had just sharpened. At 1:00 PM we walked out the door and to the car where I put Sheila in the back seat and my pack and ax in the back of the car. I drove out the driveway and turned right and then left to head up Orchard Street to the trailhead at the top of the cemetery. I grabbed Sheila's leash, my pack and the ax from my car and started the hike by walking up the steps at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves but there was no snow or mud.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, I said "Right" and followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a number of small branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. Just before we reached the end of the woods road, we came to a medium-sized trunk across the trail. I put my pack down and retrieved the camera to take my "before" pictures. After this I unsheathed the axe and removed a few small branches from the trunk before getting down to work. I used the ax to cut off the top of tree well off the right side of the trail. I went over to the left side of the trail and marked a spot on the trunk. Just before I began my cut a couple who were hiking passed by and thanked me for the work. The woman wanted to pet Sheila but I declined the offer. I began my cut with making sure it was wide enough to bet the job done. The relatively soft birch trunk cut easily and was was soon on my last swing. Once the trunk hit the ground, the remaining part of the job was to get the long piece of trunk off the trail. I was able to roll it and lift it a little and got it off the trail with out too much effort. I took some "after" shot and then packed up to continue on the trail to the next blowdown. We continued up the woods road and turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves". They were looking like someone had cleaned up the area and might be using it again. I thought I might ask the Town Board if they wanted the eyesore removed from public land. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail where we turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top.

We soon ran into a medium-sized tree that had fallen across the trail in one of the wind storms. It was another birch but was up in the air and not lying on the ground. I knew this would mean using the saw rather than the ax. I took some "before" pictures and then got to work. I used the saw to cut the top out if the tree. I made two cuts and dragged the two large branches well off the trail. I went to the butt end of the tree on the left side of the trail and decided where I could make make a cut. I wanted to make sure I cleared the trail but that I also left a small enough section of trunk that I could move. Again the cut went quickly and the section of trunk fell to the ground. I found it light enough to pick up and move off the trail. I took some "after" shots and then packed up. O decided we would complete a small loop so we continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. At the junction with the blue trail we turned left to follow the yellow trail. We walked downhill and passed the "Sitting Rock". At the overlook we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and continued down the steep hill to the next trail junction. We walked out to the trailhead and the car. I put my pack and ax in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. I decided we had time to do some work on the Parksville Rail Trail. There were a couple branches I could cut but there were also some larger trunks that would need a chainsaw. At 1:50 PM, I drove down the cemetery hill and out Orchard Street to Rock Avenue. I turned left and left again on Old Route 17. I continued on Route 17 and then turned left on Service Road and drove to the parking area just after Fox Mountain Road. I pulled into the lot where there where no other cars were parked.

We started out on the trail at 2:00 PM with the temperature at 75 degrees. The first part of the trail was dry as it was in the direct sunlight. Once we entered the trees the temperature dropped some. The trail was drier than a few days before which made the walking easier. It wasn't long before we came to a small tree draped over the trail. I took some "before" shots and then assessed what I would do. It was pretty obvious that I could use the saw to section off the tree. I cut the top out and dragged it off the trail to the left. I went to the standing trunk and cut it again on the right side of the trail. I was able to elevate the section I cut so that I could throw it over the fence. I took some "after" pictures and then packed up to move on. We negotiated some muddy and wet part of the trails. We came to the point where there is a view just before the wooden walkways and bridge. I decided not to stop on we continued on toward the falls. When we came to the large trunk across the trail caused by a mudslide, I again assessed the size of the blowdown and made a note to call the Town of Liberty Supervisor to see if he could get someone to cut these trunks with a chainsaw. I did take a few minutes to move some section of another old trunk that had been frozen into the ground. We continued a little farther and found another large trunk that would be easier to get with a chainsaw. As we continued toward the falls, I looked up to see a man walking toward us. I took Sheila off the side of the trail while the man passed with a "Hello". Just after this point there was another branch in the trail. I took pictures and then made two cuts to remove the branch. I dragged the two pieces off the trail, took some shots and packed up. I decided we would continue on to the falls and then head back. The walk went quickly and we were soon at the falls. The falls were flowing freely but the water looked clearer than last time. I did not feel like walking down to the streambed so I took some pictures from above. We turned around and started back setting a quick pace. I only stopped to take a few shots down to the stream. As we approached the parking area, we met the man we had seen before. We passed each other and Sheila and I headed to the car. We were back by 3:00 PM. As I drove home I felt good that I had spent 2 hours walking and clearing some trails for others.

On Monday, April 8th I planned to get out for a hike nearby before the solar eclipse occurred in the afternoon. At 10:15 AM I began to get ready with the temperature at 65 degrees on the back porch with partly sunny skies. I knew the actual temperature would be lower as the sensor on the back porch is in the sun. I decided I would take Sheila across the street to Round Top to hike. As we began to get ready, Sheila was keeping a careful eye on me as I dressed as she would hike every day. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt without a baselayer due to the warm temperature. 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 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, by 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 did decide to wear my Mammut hoody as I did not like any of the lighter jackets I have. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a light hat but did not take any gloves. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did not out on gaiters as I knew there would be no snow, ice or mud. I took my cell phone with me because even though I planned to hike quickly, I was pretty sure I was the only EMT around to respond. At 11:35 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway. I aimed to hike for about a little over an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." I did not on the way to the top of the hill. I could really feel that I had been hiking more consistently. The hill was completely devoid of snow and ice. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. I could not see any snow on any of the surrounding hills. The skies were a mixture of clouds and sun. We continued the hike by turning left at the trailhead. The trail was covered in leaves but there was no snow or mud.

We passed by all the places where I had cut trees to remove them from the trail. At the first trail junction, I said "Right" and followed Sheila as she turned right and started up the woods road which has the gentler approach of the two. There were a number of small branches on the trail from the winds that had passed through the area. I removed these branches either by dragging them off the trail. It was a pleasure to walk on the trails and it was obvious more people were using them. Just before we reached the end of the woods road, There was a medium-sized trunk across the trail. I lifted another smaller trunk off the trail but knew I would have to return with tools for the larger one. We turned left up the hill on the trail. I could see the frame and tarps that covered the mouth of one of the "caves". They were looking like someone had cleaned up the area and might be using it again. I thought I might ask the Town Board if they wanted the eyesore removed from public land. We continued up the trail to the first trail junction with the upper blue trail where we turned left to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We continued on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We soon ran into a medium-sized tree that had fallen across the trail in one of the wind storms. It would need tools to remove it but should not be much of a problem. I began to think about completing one figure 8 and going home to get the tools. In the end, I decided to wait until another day to remove it. We came to the next junction with the blue trail and turned right to head up the blue trail toward the summit. This trail also lacked any snow. When we got to the switchback, we turned right and followed it until it came back to the main blue trail. The fact that the switchback sidehills in places made the walk a little more difficult. We turned right and then continued straight ahead and up the hill toward the summit of Round Top bypassing the white crossover trail. As we walked over the high point, I removed a couple of branches from the trail. We continued over the summit and down the blue trail toward the junction with the yellow trail. On this side of the hill there was also no snow on the trail and it was essentially dry. We bypassed the white crossover trail again and continued down to the yellow trail. At the junction with the yellow trail we turned right and walked the yellow trail along the base of Round Top toward the next junction with the blue trail. We ducked under the tress across the trail and continued our hike. At the next junction, we turned left and started slightly downhill toward the lookout over town. We passed the "sitting rock" and continued downhill.

When we reached the lookout, we followed the yellow trail as it turned left and walked down the hill to the first trail junction. We immediately turned around and started back up the trail. I could feel that I was out of shape but I did not have to stop to get up the hill. We ignored the trail to the lower lookout and followed the yellow trail. We followed the yellow trail as it turned right and headed uphill toward the junction with the blue trail. We hiked up a short but steep little hill and arrived at the trail junction. We turned right to follow the trail along the base of Round Top. We again passed under the blowdown and arrived at the next junction with the blue trail. We turned left to start the walk up the blue trail toward the summit. I was going to simply continue over the summit but Sheila had other ideas. Sheila turned left on the white crossover trail as if she wanted to make sure I inspected it. We continued to walk along the white trail until it met the main blue trail on the other side of the hill. There were no blowdowns blocking the trail. We turned left and left again on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed the switchback out into the forest and then back to the main trail. We turned left and walked downhill to the yellow trail where a left turn again took us along the base of Round Top and under the blowdown on the trail. At the junction, Sheila and I turned right and walked down the trail to the woods road. We followed the woods road downhill with the ledges to the right. At the first trail junction, we turned left and walked straight out to the trailhead. We turned right and walked downhill and crossed the parking lot to the road. We waited to cross the road as several cars went by and then crossed to the driveway to the house. It was 12:45 PM and we had hiked a little over 2 miles and done some trail maintenance in 1 hour and 10 minutes. It was a pleasant hike and there had been no ambulance calls!

On Saturday, April 6th, I wanted to get in a hike after several days of poor weather and ambulance calls! I wasn't sure there was another EMT available but I knew I had to get out for my own health. I decided to just go to Parksville and hike the rail trail even though it is under three miles out and back. I thought the stream might be high due to the recent rain which would make the falls interesting. By the time I started to get ready at 12:15 PM the temperature was right around 43 degrees on the back porch but a stiff breeze was blowing. I asked Cindy if she would like to go and she agreed. As we were getting dressed, Sheila alternated between us so she could keep an eye on both of us. I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a short-sleeved baselayer. This combination is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. 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, by 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 poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a light hat and light knitted gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be a mixture of ice, water and mud on the trail. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 12:40 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 was one car parked in the lot and another sitting in the middle of the lot with its engine running! I took my phone with me so that I could respond on an ambulance call if I had to. We started out on the trail at 1:00 PM under overcast skies with some sun and a slight breeze blowing.

The first part of the trail was free of ice and snow but was damp and soft. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was a little cooler and the trail was about as I expected with some snow, some water and some mud. I was surprised that there seemed to be less water and mud than during our last trip. In a short distance we looked up to see a male runner coming toward us. I took Sheila by her collar and we stepped off the trail as the runner went by. We continued our hike and began removing many small to medium sized branches off the trail. Once again we looked up to see a female runner coming toward us and once again I stepped off the trail with Sheila. The runner passed with a "Hello" and we continued on our way. Several times we walked in the water where the ground was firmer. As we walked, I considered my hiking plan. I had thought we would hike out and back on the rail trail but now the trail conditions had made me think we might hike a loop returning by the road. 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. We passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. I stopped at the area just before the wooden walkways and bridge but decided there was nothing different or more interesting than on many trips before. I was not surprised that the walkways were free of ice and snow but they were still slippery. There was some ice before and after the bridge but we were able to walk around it. There was a new tree down across the trail which could be removed with hand tools. A little further along another tree was leaning over the trail. It was larger and at an angle that would make it harder to remove. We came to the tree I had trimmed to allow hikers to pass. I wanted to clear the trunk itself but decided it would need a chainsaw. We hopped over the trunk and immediately ran into two other smaller trunks across the trail. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. There was one more small tree across the trail which we easily walked around. As we walked, we could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls was just ahead. When we got to the falls, I could see that the trail to the bottom of the falls was clear of any snow or ice. Sheila and I walked over to the path down to the streambed and began the descent. Cindy decided to sit on the picnic bench at the top and wait for us. At the bottom I put my pack down and took out my camera. I took shots downstream and directly in front of me where the water was very clear. I then turned my attention upstream to the falls. I took shots encompassing the entire scene and then several close-ups of the main falls and the rapids below it. I like the noise of the falls and the volume of water which exude power but also bring me peace. When I was finished, I packed up and walked back up the path to the trail where I met Cindy and Sheila. I took some more pictures of the falls from above and upstream. I packed up my camera and we continued on the trail.

We met two women hiking toward us and we passed with a greeting. It was Saturday but the weather was not the best but it was nice to see some people. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail passing some rundown and dilapidated buildings which should be removed. Several of the buildings showed that work had been done on them. On the Parksville end of the trail we found the small garden and a very informative sign. We also had to endure the pack of barking dogs that always greets us. The owner came out but as usual the dogs ignored him! 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. After a brief pause, we walked the rest of the rail trail to the Main Street where we turned left. There are many interesting buildings along a short stretch of street but most are unoccupied and crumbling. There are a few residences and one small home had a Tesla in the driveway charging with no garage in sight. When we got to the access road, we passed the Dead End Café which brought back memories of when it was a thriving business. An OPEN sign still hung in the window. We turned left and walked on a gravel path that paralleled the road. We passed what was once the synagogue but is now the Parksville Arts Center with a Star of David on the front! The path continued to a parking area and then exited the other side. We continued on this path passing the building which once held Memories where I had bought several items at auction. The path ended in another parking area so we had to walk the shoulder of the road to get back to our car. There was almost no traffic on the road and the shoulder was wide and the drivers considerate. We arrived back at the car at 2:25 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 and 25 minutes. My phone had not sounded meaning there had been no ambulance calls.

On Thursday, April 4th I was awakened by an early morning ambulance call. When I went to sleep, it was still raining but when I woke up there was snow on the ground! I had to clear 3 inches of snow off my car and make my way down the drive way to respond. When we arrived on the scene, there was no patient and we teetered to base. By 10:00 AM things had calmed down and I decided to go across the street and hike on Round top since I could still respond on calls. I wanted to take some pictures of the snow that had fallen. I began to get ready with the temperature at 35 degrees on the back porch and light snow still falling. I knew that was the temperature climbed the snow would start falling off the trees. This makes for poor photographic conditions and a shower of "snow bombs" dropping on the trail while hiking. I decided to take my pack so that I could carry my camera and because it adds weight making the hike more challenging. As we began to get ready, Sheila was running around barking at my every move. Sheila often examines and sniffs my clothing to make sure I am serious about hiking. I decided to wear my Mammut long-sleeved crew shirt but without a baselayer. This might mean I would be a little cool at the beginning of the hikes but it also meant I would not be dripping in sweat climbing the hills. I wore a pair of Bauer First Ascent pants which are insulated against the cold and are slightly water repellant. I don't like the fit of these pants and have been looking for a replacement. I decided to put on my old Salomon b52 winter boots which I have worn for many seasons. I noticed that they were dry and needed a coat of waterproofing. I wore my OR Crocodile gaiters to keep the snow out of my shoes. I decided to take my Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I did decide to wear my Mammut hoody to block the breeze and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a fleecy hat and a pair of light gloves. I brought along my phone in case there were any calls. At 11:35 AM we walked out the door to start the hike. I grabbed Sheila's leash from my car and put it on her as we walked up the driveway which was not shoveled or plowed. I aimed to hike for about a little over an hour and complete two figure 8's. Sheila was happy to get out as we headed down the driveway and across the street. We crossed the street and walked to the parking lot next to the Presbyterian Church. The parking lot was partly occupied by a dump truck, trailer and back hoe. I wondered why the equipment was parked there. We walked to the back of the church and began the ascent of the steepest hill behind the church. I released Sheila from her leash so I could use my poles effectively. The hill is short but gets the circulation pumping and is the steepest and longest climb on the "trail." The hill was completely covered in untouched snow. I was sad that no kids had been out to sled on the hill and no one else had decided to take a walk. I did not have to stop once on the way to the top of the hill and the trip went quickly. At the top we paused for a minute so I could look around at the hills that surround the hamlet of Livingston Manor. I took out my camera and took shots of the snow both near and far. The snow that was still falling made it difficult to get good pictures. The snow was wet and was beginning to wet my pack and jacket.

We entered the woods at the trailhead and continued on to the first junction. Sheila and I both seemed to have the same idea as I wanted to go straight up to the lookout and Sheila chose that path. Climbing the hill seemed easy but I did slip a few times. I noticed that there were boot prints and paw prints in the snow and I was happy that someone had enjoyed the walk with their dog. The snow had already started falling from the trees. When we reached the top of the hill, we detoured to the left and walked out to the lower lookout which was covered in snow over some ice below. I got out my camera and took pictures of the lookout and the shots of the school and the town below. I directed Sheila to go to the upper lookout but she was being very stubborn. Eventually she went up to the ledge and posed for some pictures. I packed up my camera and walked back out to the main yellow trail where we turned left to walk to the upper lookout. Where the trail turned right we followed it uphill through a winter wonderland. All the trees were covered in snow and I love walking in snow that no one else as touched. The boot and paw prints had only gone as far as the lookout! We passed the sitting rock which was piled high with the white stuff. We continued uphill to the junction with the blue trail. We turned right to follow the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. I stopped to take some picture of the snow hanging on the bushes. As we walked the old woods road, I found several bushes and small trees hanging into the trail. I used my poles to knock the snow off and many of the branches rebounded.

As we continued to the next junction with the blue trail, we came to a medium sized birch tree that had fallen across the trail. I took a few shots and it was clear the tree could be removed, with some effort, using hand tools. At the junction with the blue trail, we turned right to climb the trail toward the summit. We passed by the white crossover trail and continued over the summit which was also beautiful with trees encased in snow. We started down the other side slipping a little and bypassing the white trail. We did turn left on the switchback in the blue trail. We followed it out into the woods and back again to the blue trail farther down the hill. We turned left on the main blue trail and walked downhill until we were back at the junction with the yellow trail. We turned left and again walked along the yellow trail to the next junction with the blue trail. This time we turned right and started to walk down the trail to the woods road. Sheila and I started down the woods road at a quick pace but came to another blowdown lying on the trail. This one was larger in diameter than the previous one but had fewer branches. This one could also be removed with hand tools. When we reached the first trail junction, I debated not doing another figure 8 but knew I would not take any pictures so the walk would be quicker. We turned around and started back up the woods road we had just descended. We set a faster pace up the woods road and turned left to stay on the yellow trail as the woods road ended. At the junction with the blue trail we turned left to stay on the yellow trail along the base of Round Top. We walked under the fallen birch tree and passed by some bushes that were still hanging into the trail. At the second junction with the blue trail, we turned right and began to ascend the hill. We turned right where the switchback led us out into the forest and then back to the main blue trail. We turned right and headed for the summit passing by the white crossover trail. We walked over the summit and down the other side again passing the white trail. At the base of the hill we turned right on the yellow trail and again walked along the base of Round Top to the second junction with the blue trail. This time we turned left and headed down the yellow trail toward the lookout. At the viewpoint where the yellow trail turned left we followed it and walked down the hill to the very first trail junction. We continued to walk straight ahead out to the trailhead where we turned right. I put Shiela on her leash and we walked downhill to the road behind the church. We walked out through the parking lot and across the street to our driveway. We were back home at12:55 PM after hiking almost 3 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes.

On Saturday, March 30th I wanted to get out for a hike after a week of poor weather and ambulance calls. My son-in-law Brad was around for a few days and I thought we might go to Frick Pond and cut two blowdowns that had been reported. We responded to an early morning ambulance call and returned home to get some breakfast. We I started to get ready at 11:00 AM with the temperature at 43 degrees and a stiff breeze blowing. The skies were blue with some nice white clouds. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer as I knew it would be cooler at the trailhead. This combination is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which I thought would be warm enough despite the low temperature. They 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 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, by 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 poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a fleecy hat and took a pair of light knitted gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be some water and mud on the trail. I put my Silky Sugowaza Sugowaza saw and Silky KatanaBoy 500 saw in my pack. The Sugowaza is a fixed blade in a scabbard and is great for branches and smaller trunks. The KatanaBoy has very large teeth and a lot of them and folds. I also brought my Fiskars ax which I knew Brad could carry. I put our gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 1:25 PM. 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. There was one car parked in the larger lot as I pulled into the smaller parking area.

We got ready to hike and started out at 11:35 AM. We walked out the woods road to the Quick Lake Trail at the trail register. The woods road was damp and muddy in spots. Looking ahead we could see that the trail from the register was very wet and muddy in many places. We could also see a couple with a spirited dog on a leash trying to pick their way along the muddy trail. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked at a pace to get by the other hikers and their dog. As we passed, we greeted each other as their dog barked its head off. Brad and I kept up the pace working around or through the mud and water. When we got to Gravestone junction we headed right on the Loggers Loop to find the first blowdown. This trail was a little less muddy and there were no larger pools of water. Within a few hundred feet we came to the primitive campsites on the left. There was a large branch from an even larger tree that had fallen across the trail effectively blocking it. Hikers had been walking around it but I hoped we could remove all of it from the trail. I put my pack down and took out the camera to take some "before" pictures of the mess before us. We walked up to the blowdown and started to form a plan. We first hauled away all the loose branches and when we were done it already looked better. I used the Sugowaza to cut some of the smaller branches to expose the rest of the large branches. Brad and I dragged what I had cut. What remained were the main branch and some slightly smaller ones. As we were deciding what to do next, the couple with their dog appeared. It seemed they weren't sure what to do but the decided too stay on the trail and walk passed us. At least they walked off the trail and did not walk through our workspace or under anything we were cutting. Most people usually say "Thank you when they see people clearing the trail for them but these two were silent.

We decided to use the KatanaBoy to cut one of the higher branches that was not supporting anything else. Brad used the bigger saw and quickly cut away the branch which I dragged away. We decided to cut the largest branch toward the top and Brad made a cut that was done in seconds. Brad made another cut of the larger diameter main branch. We had to be careful as I had not brought along any wedges to free the saws if they started to bind. I usually make a cut from the top down and then remove the saw and make a cut up from the bottom. Brad's approached was to cut so fast that the saw had no chance to bind! As he finished the cut the branch rotated but we were able to avoid getting hit. The rest of the main branch collapsed against the trunk of the trail. We dragged the section that was Brad had cut away. At his point another hiker approached and walked around our work without a word of thanks or greeting! I guess people don't understand that the trails are maintained by volunteers for the use of others! That left a few smaller branches to cut and remove. When we were done, we put away the tools and I took a few "after" pictures of the now clear trail. It appeared that it had never been blocked! We walked along the trail clearing a few branches and small trunks here and there. We hot the highest point on that section of trail and started down a long hill to Times Square. This part of the trail was muddy in may posts with some standing water. As we approached Times Square, we could Se the couple and their dog at the trail junction. They hadn't gotten very far and seemed to be wondering where they should go next. I put Sheila on her leash again as the couple tried to get their dog off the trail. The dog kept barking as loudly as possible as we turned right and headed up the Big Rock Trail. I released Sheila from her leash which allowed me to more effectively use my poles as we climbed up the hill.

We started up the Big Rock Trail and the initial part slowed me down some. After I adjusted my breathing, the climb was easier. We made it to the top of the first climb where the trail faltered out a little. Up ahead we could see one small trunk across the trail followed by a much larger trunk with several branches. We stepped over the small trunk and walked to the larger blowdown. I took some "before" shots of the blowdown before we started to work. We cleared out some of the loose branches and cut a few small trees that were in the way. I used the small saw to cut the top out of the tree leaving only the larger trunks. The largest trunk was well supported on the butt end with the part over the trail just hanging in midair. Brad used the KatanaBoy to cut a section off the top of trunk. All I contributed was some downward pressure. The section quickly dropped to the ground and just as quickly Brad had it off to the side of the trail. Brad then picked a spot further up the trunk which was 8 or 10 inches in diameter and applied the saw. This cut took a little longer but not much. That section dropped to the ground and Brad maneuvered it off the trail. There was still a piece of another trunk sticking out into the trail so Brad cut that piece off. This time flipped the piece off the trail and we were done. I took some quick shots of the trail we had just cleaned. We walked down to the trail to the small trunk and I took some pictures. I grabbed the ax and cut the top off the trail. Brad was able to picot what I had cut off the trail. We were done so I snapped a few "after" pictures. I packed everything up and we started back down the Big Rock Trail to Times Square. As we descended the last part of the hill, we could see a family was occupying most of Times Square. I put Sheila on her leash as I intended to walk across the trail junction and stay on the Big Rock Trail. As we passed be the family, we exchanged greetings. The trail was wet in spots and muddy in others. We crossed the two bridges over the inlet streams and I pointed out to Brad how high the water was. We continued through the spruce tunnel which was completely bare. The last time I had been under these trees there was a layer of ice with more ice falling from the trees! We walked over the boardwalks which were clear of snow and ice. As we continued on the trail we ran into section of mud just before the junction with the Quick Lake Trail. We turned left on the Quick Lake Trail and headed for the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. The trail was damp and muddy but in better shape than on my last trip. We walked across the bridge and I decided not to stop for pictures. Next it was up the hill for a quick walk to Gravestone Junction to complete the loop. We headed back to the car on the Quick Lake Trail which seemed just a bit drier than on our trip out two hours earlier. As we walked back to the car on the woods road, I could see that there were now four cars parked in the smaller lot and four more in the large area. We had met more people than I had since the previous fall. We were back at 1:35 PM. Walking about 2.5 miles and working on two large blowdowns had taken about 2 hours. I like to think I can do as much work with hand saws and axes as with a chain saw. Everything can be cleared with hand tools but it usually takes more time.

On Monday, March 25th, I wanted to get out for a longer hike to continue my efforts to hike more frequently I had an overnight ambulance call and slept in until 8:30 AM. I knew that I was the only EMT available to answer calls but I also needed to take some time for myself and Sheila. Rather than travel too far I decided to go to Frick Pond and hike the Flynn Trail where I could hike some uphill miles. This would give me some choices of how far I wanted to hike and the route I would take. I also wanted to see if there were any trees that needed trimming to make hiking easier. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and was surprised when she said "Yes" as she generally does not like hills. I wanted to hike to the lookout by the cabin on the shoulder of Beech Mountain but knew Cindy would not like that much uphill hiking. As I started to get ready at 1:15 PM, the temperature on the back porch was 48 degrees with sunny skies! This was a far cry from the rain and cold weather over the weekend. I put on my Mammut long-sleeved crew top with a light long-sleeved baselayer as I knew it would be cooler at the trailhead. This combination is a little bit warmer and appropriate for the cooler weather. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which I thought would be warm enough despite the low temperature. They 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 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, by 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 poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I donned my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I did put on a fleecy hat and took a pair of light knitted gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be some water and mud on the trail. I put our gear in the back and Sheila in the backseat and headed out the DeBruce Road at 1:25 PM. 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 was one car parked in the larger lot. I pulled into the smaller lot with Sheila acting as if she hadn't hiked in a month as she ran around and headed for the trail. The temperature was 46 degrees and the skies were blue with white clouds. We crossed the road and began our hike at 1:45 PM.

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 mostly damp with a little mud but no snow. We passed by several trees I had cut and removed from the trail. Some were cut with the help of local Ranger Eric Stratton. There was one new tree that had fallen across the trail which would require tools to remove. We continued on the Flynn Trail and turned right on the woods road and continued to set a good pace up the hill. The trail gains a little over 600 feet in 1.7 miles to the highest point at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. It was obvious that a large volume of water had run down the trail during the weekend rain storms as their was a trench with many displaced ;eaves. We passed the hemlock that used to form a tunnel but was cleared by the DEC. The trail continued to be free of snow although we could see some in the woods especially in the shadows. I began to find some small branches on the trail which I removed. I also found some larger branches and trunks that had come down in the high winds of the recent storms. At one point I looked up to see couple hiking toward us. I escorted Sheila if the trail to allow the hikers to pass. They said "Hello" and I asked what route they had taken. They did not know the names of the trails but indicated they had come up the Big Rock Trail from Frick Pond. They told us there were no blowdowns and the trail was easy to walk. As we hiked Cindy noticed a road to the right of the trail and wondered if it led to the clearing further up the trail. I asked if she would like to hike it and she agreed. I knew the road led up over the ledges that we usually pass by on the Flynn Trail and then came back down to the Flynn Trail. The road starts out clear of brush and blowdowns but quickly becomes obscured. We worked out way around and over the brush and blowdowns until we were near the highest point on the trail. I saw the stonework that supported the road which indicated it was not simply a wagon track through the forest but a constructed road. I pointed this out to Cindy and then walked off the road to take some pictures. When I was done, I walked back to the road and we continue up to the highest point on the road. I dropped my pack and took some sots of the ledges and rocks further up the ridge. I then walked out onto the large rock that forms a ledge that we see when hiking up the Flynn Trail. I took some picture of Sheila and some down to the Flynn Trail below. I finished up and packed away my camera and we walked the short downhill to the Flynn rail. We turned right and started up the trail. When we came to the area near the clearing to the right of the trail, we noticed the amount if snow had increased off the trail. I asked Cindy if she would like to walk up to the clearing but she declined. I noticed that I was very relaxed and decided I needed to get out more as the other things that I do can be stressful. Further up the trail, we did run across a few small trees across the trails and one very large one. I worked to remove some of the branches around the large blowdown to clear a path for hikers. We kept walking uphill and we were soon at the junction with the Big Rock Trail. This junction was clear of snow but the forest floor off the trail was covered in snow in all four directions. Cindy noticed that the trail sign had been damaged and that it looked purposeful! I took some pictures of the sign to send to the forester. We turned left to walk down the Big Rock Trail where the layer of snow off trail continued for some time. 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 several levels that make it seem like the bottom of the hill. It definitely helped to have someone to talk to while hiking. We did run into a large blowdown with a good-sized trunk and many branches. The blowdown almost blocked the trail and would require tools to remove it. As we came to the bottom of the descent, the snow disappeared.

We were soon at Times Square and I thought about turning right to hike up and around the Logger's Loop to add some distance to our hike. Cindy did not like this idea and she turned left to hike the uphill Loggers Loop back to Gravestone Junction. She thought this would be easier in her hip! Sheila and I continued our hike by walking straight across Times Square to stay on the Big Rock Trail. The Big Rock Trail around the back of Frick Pond can be very wet, and this day was no exception. There was water, mud, and frozen water and mud in most place along the trail. We passed the very large blowdown which Ranger Stratton and I had cleared. As we headed for the two small bridges on the trail, we ran into a some ice and snow which made the trail very slippery for me. Sheila was having no problem with the ice and snow. We came to the two small bridges over the inlets to the pond and I decided to stop to take pictures. The water under the first bridge was backed up from the wetlands and was higher than it had been for some time. At first I attributed the height of the water to the recent rains but looking downstream I saw the outline of some beavers dam. I took pictures from several angles and with varying zooms. I took a picture of the second bridge which was completely covered in snow. I also took some shots upstream. The area under the second bridge had a stream fowling but the volume was lower. When we got to the area that was covered by tall evergreens, we again ran into a lot of ice on the trail. It was clear that the trees had been covered in ice which had fallen onto the trail. The wooden boardwalks had some ice and snow and 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. I did not stop to take pictures and continued the hike.

The rest of the trail was free from snow to the trail junction but the trail was very muddy in many places. At the next trail junction we turned left on the Quick Lake Trail to head for the bridge across the outlet of Frick Pond. A glance to the right and I could see the trail was open and free of blowdowns. Cindy and I had cleared some blowdowns on the last trip and no more had fallen in this area. As we walked along the west side of Frick Pond to the bridge across the outlet of the pond, there was a some snow and ice as the trail is shaded by trees and bushes. The small stream that exist in this area were swollen and running with a high volume of water. We crossed the bridge and I put down my pack and got out the camera. I took shots of the pond and of Beech Mountain from different angles. I also took some pictures of Sheila on the bridge. When I was done, I packed up the camera and started up the hill toward Gravestone Junction. The hill was covered in ice forcing me to the sides of the trail. At the top, we continued along the trail to Gravestone Junction. The junction is named for the memorial near the junction for a tragedy involving the Lobdells. The father of this family was the caretaker for the Frick popery and the family lived in a cabin along what is now the Quick Lake Trail. One night the cabin caught fire. The parents were able to get out but their two children were trapped inside and died in the flames. I wondered where Cindy might be but assumed she had made it back to the car while I was taking a slightly longer path. I heard a dog barking and a voice yelling at the dog to come back. The dog did not pay attention and soon came into view. When he saw me, he stopped and then turned around and went back to his master. I did not bring a leash but attached one of my hiking poles to her collar. We walked out the trail from Gravestone Junction and continued on the Quick Lake Trail passing the Lobdell memorial marker. The trail back to the register was alternately covered in water and ice sometimes mixed with mud. We passed the trail register heading toward the parking area. We continued straight ahead to follow the woods road out to the car in the small lot. Sheila saw Cindy by the car but stayed with me as I directed until I let her go. We arrived at the car at 4:15 PM having hiked over 4 miles in 2 hour and 30 minutes with an elevation gain of almost 800 feet. The temperature was 48 degrees at the car. There were now two different cars parked in the larger lot. I checked my phone and found there had been no ambulance lass! I backed out go the lot and headed home feeling a little tired but very relaxed. As we passed Mongaup Pond Road, I thought about stopping to go to Mongaup Falls but kept driving instead!

On Friday, March 22nd, I wanted to get in a hike before the winter weather watch took effect for the weekend! This would also be the first hike of the spring although the weather did not reflect that. After an early morning ambulance call, I decided to take some time to hike on a cool but sunny day. It was 10:15 AM when I decided to just go to Parksville and hike the rail trail even though it is under three miles out and back. As I started to get ready the temperature was 25 degrees. The skies that had been sunny were now overcast. I asked Cindy if she wanted to go and she surprised me by saying "Yes". I got dressed in my Mammut crew top with a long-sleeved baselayer. This combination is a little warmer than what I sometimes wear but I thought that it would be colder in the shade of the trees on the rail trail. I wore my Railriders hiking pants which I thought would be warm enough despite the low temperature. They 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 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, by 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 took a pair of Leki poles with external locks as the internal twist locks sometimes fail. I wore my Mammut hoody to block the breezy and keep me warm. It has pit zips that open all the way to the lower hem. I put in a light fleece hat and brought along a pair of light gloves. I also put on my OR Crocodile gaiters as I thought there would be a mixture of snow, ice, and mud on the trail. I put our gear in the back of the car and Sheila in the back seat. We left Livingston Manor at 10:40 AM 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 no cars parked in the lot as we were getting ready to hike. I left my phone in the car so that I could enjoy the hike. We started out on the trail at 11:00 AM with very little sun under overcast skies.

The first part of the trail was completely bare and frozen making it dry. There was some snow on the sides of the trail. We looked up and a man was walking toward us with a small dog which was barking its head off. I put Sheila on her leash and we walked by. Sheila eyed the other dog as if she was wondering why there was so much commotion. Once we were on the trail and sheltered by the trees it was slightly cooler and there was more snow and ice on the trail. There was a little water in a few places but most of the trail was frozen. We were able to set a fast pace as we did not have to work our way around mud and ice. 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 high and there was some ice in the stream in several places. We passed several benches placed for people to rest in warmer weather. I stopped at the area just before the wooden walkways and the bridge to take some pictures down to the stream. The stream looked very cold and was made even colder by the overcast skies. I also took pictures of the trail which was covered in snow. The trail and walkways were covered in snow in both directions. As we walked over the walkways, we had to make sure of our footing as it was very slippery. We came to the area where a mudslide had brought down earth and a number of trees onto the trail. There was also a covering of ice in this area which was very slippery. We hopped over the trunk and carefully walked along the edge of the ice. Once we were off the ice, we picked up the pace again. We continued on the trail heading toward the falls. As we walked, I could hear an increase in the noise from the stream and I knew the falls were just ahead. When we got to the falls, I debated whether or not I would descend the path to the streambed. I decided that I had enough pictures from the base of the falls and would take some shots from the trail.

I like the noise of the falls and the volume of water which I find peaceful. I took some more pictures of the falls from above. I also took shots upstream where there was a nice contrast between the stream and the leaves on the ground. I packed up my camera and we continued on the trail toward Parksville. Soon we were nearing the Parksville end of the trail passing many places where there were signs work was being done to clean up the area. There was a large dog on Te other side of the stream that was making some serious noise. His owner directed him to quiet down which helped. I asked the owner the breed of the dog and he said he was part Belgian Malimois and Anatolian Shepherd. The dog was impressive in size and demeanor. There seemed to be a major construction project encompassing several lots. As we approached the Parksville end of the trail we saw another man and his dog coming toward us. I could instantly see that the dog was a German Shepherd and we stopped to talk to the owner. He confirmed that his dog was a purebred two and a half year old German Shepherd. Our dogs greeted each other but the shepherd was much more interested than Sheila. We parted as Cindy and I headed for the Parksville end of the trail. We found the small garden and a very informative sign. 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. After the briefest pause, we turned around at 11:42 AM and started back to the car. We kept up a good pace as we had already seen what the trail had to offer and I had taken my pictures. On our way toward the falls we caught up to the man with the shepherd and passed them. We passed the falls and eventually came to the icy area by the mudslide. I decided to go off the trail to avoid the ice and mud. We continued over the bridge and the walkways and soon broke out of the trees. We eventually arrived back at the car at 12:15 PM after hiking 2.8 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes. My phone showed there had been one ambulance call but another EMT and driver had covered it.