NCT: Shackham Road (South) East to Powerline

I had a short block of free solo time today, which is unusual on a weekend, as I prioritize spending time with Frankie whenever I can.  However, Erwin was taking him to a football game, and football is one of my least favorite sports balls, so I elected not to tag along.  I wanted to be home to see Frankie when they returned, so had only a few hours, a block of time I might ordinarily elect to use for a bike ride, but I have learned that game day traffic and related shenanigans (tailgating, illegal parking, drunken frat boys, etc.) make such rides less enjoyable.  I have some weeks coming up where a solo hike won't be an option for one reason or another, so I decided to squeeze one in today.  I wouldn't have time to drive all the way down to Danby State Forest to continue my explorations there.  But I could certainly get down to Morgan Hill, so that's what I did.

NCT: Forestport to Booneville

This section of North Country Trail (NCT) follows the Black River Canal, so I knew the trail would be very flat and easy.  I also knew, from previously hiking the Erie Canal Trail sections of the NCT, that the towpaths aren't my favorite type of hiking, so when I saw that this section is also open to bikes, I immediately decided to drop a bike.  This would let me cover the miles on foot, but would save me from doing so twice, as I typically go both out and back on solo hikes.  Because I wanted to knock out 10 miles and this is quite a drive from home (plus the extra time required to load the bike on the car), I waited until a day when Frankie had an after school activity.  Then I drove to Boonville, locked my bike up at Erwin Park, then drove to Forestport, and parked at the dam.  I would hike to Booneville, then retrieve my bike and cycle back to my car.  Voila!  It worked like a charm. 

FLT/NCT: Ridgeway Road to NY Route 96B

I began this hike on Ridgeway Road, at the same trailhead I used this spring when I finished the last Shindagin Hollow State Forest section of the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT).  This time I hiked west, up and over Eastman Hill and into Danby State Forest, before dropping down Heisy Road into the next valley.  I completed the short roadwalk along NY Route 96B, then took the short section that bumps back into a pipeline right-of-way.  When the trail again comes back out to 96B, I turned back and retraced my steps, as the trail crosses the road here and climbs over the next ridge.  That will be my next exploration down this way. 

Jones Hill from Spruce Pond

After taking Erin and Alden up Jones Hill back in July, I started thinking about other hikes down that way that we could take them on.  Morgan Hill State Forest is one of my favorite places outside the Adirondacks, so it is natural to want to share it.  It is too far a drive from their house to be a regular destination, especially given that Alden struggles with motion sickness.  However, Erin seemed willing to give it a go today, and her friend James decided to join us; apparently he loves Morgan Hill, too, so it was a great opportunity for Frankie and I to meet him.

Bear Den Mountain

We have been coming up to the High Peaks region at this time of year for a long, long time, and always like to mix it up, hiking both big and smaller mountains, and squeezing in a paddle, too, if we can manage.  This year I was eager to check out Bear Den Mountain, which I learned of through its inclusion in the Lake Placid 9'er hiking challenge, which describes the peak as "a hidden gem."  An off-the-beaten-path destination was exactly what we wanted for the holiday weekend, so I added Bear Den to our itinerary.  And boy, did it deliver!