FLT/NCT: Roadwalk, Trout Brook Redux, and Mount Tego

For this hike, I parked at the snowplow turnaround on Telephone Road that had been the starting point for a spring hike through Taylor Valley State Forest.  Today I hiked west and south instead of north and east.  The Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) carries the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) throughout the area, so the white blazes are periodically punctuated with blue NCT discs.  The first 1.8 miles of my hike were a roadwalk, along Telephone Road and NY Route 41.  I decided to do this hike today so that I could complete a 0.2-mile section of trail I had orphaned this spring when I hiked the FLT/NCT through Baker School House State Forest.  There has long been a hunting closure on the private land this section of trail crosses, but unfortunately there was an announcement this week that the closure would be permanent effective October 1st.  So today would be my last chance.

FLT/NCT: Underwood Hill

Although classes started back up a few weeks ago, today was my first opportunity for a solo school day hike.  I prioritized this section of the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT), which carries the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT), because it is on private land and has a fall hunting closure starting October 1.  I have already hiked the adjacent sections of FLT/NCT on both sides, so didn't want to orphan this chunk.  I parked at the Stone Road access, which I used over the summer when Frankie and I hiked the adjacent section into Hoxie Gorge State Forest.  This time I followed the trail north through farm fields, and then east down Underwood Hill, crossing two roads and two creeks before climbing again to the edge of Baker School House State Forest.  This spot had been my turnaround point on my last school day hike of the spring.  From here I retraced my steps down into the valley and back up Underwood Hill for a total hike of 7.6 miles with over 1,000 feet elevation gain.

Three Generations on the Bog Trail

Frankie was in the midst of one of his epic breakfasts, where he grazes and nibbles intermittently, but mainly focuses on reading drifts of Highlights and Ranger Rick, when I noticed a text notification.  I had a message from Erin that she was heading to Beaver Lake and had also invited our Dad, Bruce.  Apparently Alden was sad that we weren't coming.  I casually mentioned this to Frankie, and he wanted to leave -- immediately.  I told Erin we might come and find them, but not to wait for us, as we were still in pajamas and have a much longer drive.  It was obvious where they would go.  Alden is two and I remember those days: the Bog Trail is the only trail that matters. 

Giant Mountain

 Giant Mountain
4,627 ft.  |  Ranked 12/46 in height  |  7th peak climbed (repeat)

In 2015, we spent a long weekend in Keene Valley, at a rental house with a direct view of Giant Mountain.  Frankie, who was four at the time, immediately declared that he wanted to climb "that mountain."  He was not remotely discouraged when we told him it is a very hard hike.  Over the course of the weekend, and continuing back at home afterwards, Frankie repeatedly expressed his desire to climb Giant.  He talked about it persistently, adorably calling it "Gigantic" for a while.  He was not to be deterred.  I didn't want to rush into to anything though - Giant actually is pretty gigantic.  I have taken Frankie hiking pretty regularly his whole life, but they were/are typically short hikes close to home, hikes without significant elevation gain.  At that point he had climbed only very small Adirondack mountains fully under his own power: Bald Mountain and Mount Jo.  His longest hikes had been a pair of four milers, in Tuscany and at Highland Forest.  Nothing remotely comparable to a High Peak.