NCT: Deruyter State Forest

I am really enjoying sharing the North County National Scenic Trail (NCT) with Frankie, taking him back to sections I previously hiked solo and doing them together.  For this hike, I parked at the trailhead on East Lake Road, just east of Deruyter Reservoir, and we followed the Onondaga Trail east.  The trail starts on private land, then traverses Deruyter State Forest.  As I did in April 2016, Frankie and hiked the short roadwalk along Fairbanks Road to reach the charming Armstrong Pond.  I had brought Frankie here once before, from the Webber Road trailhead; that visit was in spring and the the shoreline was a little more accessible.  Today the vegetation was a bit more overgrown, making it harder to access the water directly, but it was still very lovely.  We ate lunch at the pond and goofed around a bit, then retraced our steps the way we came. 

The Onondaga Trail carries the NCT, and is blue blazed.  No offense to the white-blazed Finger Lakes Trail (which I adore!) but to my old eyes anyway, the blue blazes are easier to see in the forest. 

screened view down to the island in Deruyter Reservoir

elecampane (Inula helenium)

crossing the powerline

blue vervain (Verbena hastata)

scouting for a lunch spot

Armstrong Pond

boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

signing the register

This out-and-back hike is about 6 miles with just over 1,100 feet elevation gain.  The longest climb comes at the front end, after which there are several more downs and ups, and then it's all done again in reverse on the way back.  I stick by my assessment from last time though: this is a really terrific hike!  Stop and check out the stream just west of Fairbanks Road; we played here a while and found lots of fossils.