nature

First Winter Hike in the Catskills & a Cozy Cabin, December 13 & 14, 2025

December 15, 2025

Another trip to the Catskills! I was counting the days until we could get back up. I’ve really fallen in love with these mountains. Every time we go, they become more and more familiar. This time we stayed in Phoenicia in a rustic cabin. The cabin had a warm, glowing fire, and the main lodge was decorated for the holidays, which really set the mood perfectly. The town of Phoenicia is centrally located in the Catskills, so it was a great base with plenty of options for different hiking trails.

There was already snow on the ground from a few days earlier, so I wasn’t sure how my low-clearance car was going to manage. I went with no expectations and decided that if worse came to worst and we didn’t get out on the trail, we’d still have a nice place to stay and relax.

Our original plan was to hike to Balsam Lake Fire Tower. This trip was more of a recon trip to reacquaint ourselves with our winter gear and get a feel for hiking upstate. We’re experienced with snow hiking on the West Coast, but the East Coast is a completely different beast. The cold and wind come at much lower elevations, and as with any mountain, temperatures and weather conditions can change in an instant.

As we drove along Route 28 and up and over Belleayre Mountain, the temperature dropped, the winds picked up, and the snow started coming down fast. We decided to turn around, just in case conditions got worse. If we had an AWD vehicle, that might have been a different story, but I didn’t want to spend the weekend waiting for a tow truck to pull us out of a snow drift.

It was already late in the day, so we decided to head over to the trailhead for Hunter Mountain on Spruceton Road and see what the driving was like over there. I was more worried about the car than the hiking, because once we’re on the trail, we’re good to go.

The afternoon was very quiet and still, and the only sound I heard was the flow of Hunter Brook. The trail was doable in either spikes or snowshoes; however, if we’d had time to go farther up the mountain, we definitely would have switched to snowshoes.

We were able to get in a few miles before the short winter day started to fade and the sun began to set behind the mountain. We headed back to the cabin, checked in, and then went out for a bite to eat before settling in for a warm, cozy evening.

The night was so quiet and peaceful. We woke up Sunday morning to a few more inches of snow. It was nice to look out the window and see towering pine trees instead of towering skyscrapers for a change. We had a light breakfast and took our time in the morning, hoping the DEC might have the trailhead plowed out so we could get in another hike on Hunter before heading back to the city. Spruceton Road was plowed just fine, but unfortunately the parking area at the trailhead wasn’t, and my car just can’t handle snow like that. We headed back to the cabin to enjoy the rest of the day in the beauty of the Catskills, with a cozy fire and each other’s company, before making our way back to the city.

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Catskills, Mt. Tremper Fire Tower via Jessup Road, Willow Trail & Warner Creek Trail, 7.1 Miles RT, 1,837' +/-, Max Elevation 2,740', October 19, 2025

October 19, 2025

We wanted to make the best out of our weekend, so we woke up and headed out to hike Mount Tremper from the Willow Parking Area located off Jessup Road. This approach is longer but less steep than hiking it from Old Rt. 28/Mt. Tremper-Phoenicia Rd.

We parked in the small lot in a residential area that had room for about six cars. The trail immediately begins a steep ascent on an old jeep road through mostly hardwoods. We hiked through the beautiful Hoyt Hollow, where huge boulders line the walls of the hollow. Here, the trail narrows as it passes through more conifers. It’s my favorite section of this hike. Some parts of the trail were slightly eroded but still very manageable. It also loses some elevation before ascending again as it meets the junction with the Warner Creek Trail.

The Warner Creek Trail is a section of the Long Path that continues past the summit of Mount Tremper to Silver Hollow Notch. It’s an undulating stretch, and the winds really picked up here. With the autumn leaves falling, we had some views to the north and south. Eventually, we reached the 47-foot fire tower at the summit. We climbed as high as we could up to the locked cab and enjoyed views of the Burroughs Range, Stony Clove, Deep Notch, and the Devil’s Path Range. We had a snack and checked out the Baldwin lean-to before heading back the way we came.

The weather was starting to turn, and it looked like rain was moving in, so we hiked back down at a decent pace. I was so focused and deep in my groove, enjoying the wind and racing the ominous weather that seemed to be approaching. As we descended, the wind died down, and we stayed well ahead of the rain. It was a great hike. I’ve really fallen in love with the Catskills!

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Catskills, Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower via Dry Brook Ridge, 6 Miles RT, 1,197' +/-, Max Elevation, 3,723', October 18, 2025

October 18, 2025

Today’s hike took us to the top of Balsam Lake Mountain.

The very first fire tower ever placed on a mountaintop in New York State was installed here in 1887. The 47 foot tower that stands today was erected in 1919, closed in 1988, and later reopened in 2000.

We began our hike at the trailhead off Mill Brook Road, where there’s a parking lot with a kiosk and clear signage pointing the way. Crossing the road, we followed the blue markers on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail. The trail was moderately graded by Catskill standards and wide, with rocks that were easy to navigate. Large moss-covered boulders and ferns lined the path and we passed a small mountain spring along the way.

Eventually, we reached a junction with the red marked Balsam Lake Mountain Trail leading to the summit. The grade became steeper here, but still very manageable. The trail soon transitioned into an aromatic forest of balsam fir and spruce before opening into a clearing with the Observer’s Cabin and the Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower. Picnic tables are scattered around the area, and a group of young hikers was gathered there playing music and having a great time, adding to the joyful, welcoming energy of the mountain.

We climbed to the top of the tower and took in the views stretching over the tops of the balsam fir trees. Ladybugs were flying around the the tower and the clearing adding to the happy atmosphere. We hung out for a while, had a snack, and then began our descent.

It was a wonderful day… nothing too strenuous and just the right amount of effort to make you feel like you earned your dinner. I absolutely loved this hike.

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Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Orchard Trail, Hamilton Ridge Trail, Pioneer Trail Loop, 7.6 Miles RT, August 10, 2025

August 10, 2025

This weekend was another one without high humidity, so I had to take advantage and get out on the trail. We went back to the Delaware Water Gap with plans to hike from Millbrook Village, starting out on the Orchard Trail, up to Hamilton Ridge, then descending on the Pioneer Trail with a side trip to the river. From there, we could either hike out to the waterfall at VanCampen’s Glen and back, or just loop around on Hamilton Ridge, depending on how hot it got.

The morning started out great! It was cool and refreshing with sunlight flickering in and out through the forest canopy. We hiked up the Orchard Trail past my favorite stand of cedar trees and ascended along a mossy green path to Hamilton Ridge. From there, the trail widened into a carriage road lined with hardwoods like shagbark hickory and oak, as well as conifers such as Eastern White Pine and Eastern Hemlock.

At the junction for the Pioneer Trail, we turned onto its narrow path, which passed through groves of white pine and eventually ran alongside a ravine that was almost completely dry. As we lost elevation, the trail became overgrown full of ferns and another leafy green plant I see all the time but still don’t know the name of. You could hardly tell there was a trail at all, but it was still easy enough to follow. I kept checking myself for ticks every few minutes, hoping I wouldn’t pick up any hitchhikers.

The last time we were here was in the fall, so I had never seen this trail in late summer. I was surprised it wasn’t better maintained because it’s such a beautiful route. We carried on, with glimpses of the river visible through the deciduous trees to our right. I couldn’t focus on the view for long because I was too busy bushwhacking through tall brush.

When we reached the side trail down to the river, it looked like it had been cleared more recently than the section we’d just traveled. There were kayak campers in the spots where we usually sit, so we found another path to the water not far from the campsite. We watched a few kayakers and some motorboats go by, had a snack, and then headed back.

By then, the day was starting to heat up, and I didn’t want to be hiking in the midday heat. We opted to loop back on Hamilton Ridge rather than take the extra mileage to VanCampen’s Glen, since from there the only way back to Millbrook is along the road. It was too hot for concrete walking and too busy with summer weekend traffic.

When we reached the Hamilton Ridge junction, the trail was overgrown again. We considered going back via the Glen, but decided to stick with our plan. We powered through the tall brush and climbed back up in elevation.

It was still a great hike, but the heat and the bushwhacking wore me out. As we reached the last stretch, the trail leveled off and I cooled down. The forest felt peaceful with the hum of cicadas and the earthy scent of late summer. The sun broke through the canopy, lighting the moss and ferns in deep shades of green. I could feel the afternoon air becoming heavier. But even with the overgrown trails and a layer of sweat and trail dust on my body, I was grateful to be out here. Days like this remind me that even when the trails aren’t perfect, it’s always worth lacing up my boots and seeing where they take me.

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Pinelands National Reserve, Franklin Parker Preserve, 5.74 Miles RT, 79' +/-, March 1, 2025

March 01, 2025

Today, we visited a very special place, the Pinelands National Reserve in New Jersey. The Pine Barrens have been on my bucklist to hike and today was the day. Weather conditions were sunny in the low 60s and perfect for hiking.

The Pinelands, also known as the Pine Barrens, is the largest surviving forest on the eastern seaboard between Maine’s North Woods and the Florida Everglades. The biodiversity here is remarkable! It is truly a unique and special place.

The ecosystem consists of acidic, low-nutrient water and soil, which support a wide variety of plant and wildlife species that have adapted to these conditions. The Pinelands provide critical habitat for over 50 rare, threatened, or endangered species. Here, you can find bald eagles, northern pine snakes, pine barrens tree frogs, and rare plants such as the pine barrens gentian and bog asphodel, to name just a few. Spanning over 800,000 acres, the Pinelands forest has only about half of its land permanently preserved.

Today, our hike took place at the Franklin Parker Preserve, the New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s largest property, covering 16 square miles in the heart of the Pine Barrens. We followed the Sam Lambert Trail, formerly known simply as the Red Trail, which is marked by red blazes. The loop trail led us through beautiful pitch pine forests and cedar swamps, with sandy roads winding through the woods, past shallow lakes and tributaries of the West Branch of the Wading River.

Once home to an active cranberry and blueberry farm, the land was purchased by the New Jersey Conservation Foundation in 2003 and is now a protected nature preserve. Efforts are underway to restore the land to functioning wetlands, providing essential habitat for a diverse variety of plants and animals.

There was little to no elevation on this hike, and the terrain was easy walking, allowing us to enjoy the scenery and take in all its beauty.

Discovering this incredible gem in such a densely populated state was a delightful surprise. I look forward to exploring more of this unique and beautiful area.

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Loyalsock State Forest, Fern Ridge Trail and Equestrian Trail, September 23, 2024

September 23, 2024

We spent another weekend camping at World’s End State Park. This time for our hike we wanted an easy route just to stretch our legs. I wanted to spend more time at the campsite enjoying a campfire and toasting marshmallows. We drove to the Fern Ridge Trailhead and decided to explore. It was wet and boggy with too many slippery rocks. We opted to explore the Equestrian Trail instead which offered an easy walk without having to gaze down at our footing every step. We got back to camp just as the sun began to fall below the horizon. We set up the tent, built a fire and settled in to enjoy the quiet evening. It was a new moon and the forest was as black as I’d ever seen it. Millions of stars sparkled overhead. When we got tired we cozied up in our tent in our sleeping bags and drifted off to sleep. Sometime during the night a Barred Owl visited the trees just above our tent. I loved listening to the calls in the darkness with hardly another soul around.

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Swiftwater Forest Preserve, August 11, 2024

August 11, 2024

This summer has been unbearable with the heat and humidity. I’m afraid with global climate change, this may be our new normal. But today it was a little cooler and we took advantage of the favorable weather and got out for a hike at Swiftwater Forest Preserve in Paradise Township. I love this short hike for its coniferous forest and soft, pine needle-covered trails. It’s a mellow hike and today there were so many mushrooms to look at. We had heavy rains this week, but the trails were mostly dry and not too buggy. We took our time exploring and enjoying the fresh morning air.

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Worlds End State Park Camping & Hiking in Loyalsock State Forest, July 7 & 8, 2024

July 07, 2024

We spent the weekend camping at Worlds End State Park. It’s the height of summer and the weather was quite warm. We did a few short hikes on a section of the Loyalsock Trail, but the purpose of our trip was mostly to enjoy the campsite and relax without feeling obligated to reach a specific destination or hike lengthy miles. We did a loop starting at Coal Mine Road, where we headed into the forest on the a dirt trail and finished with a trek back on Coal Mine Road where we checked out the more primitive campsites. In the early evening, we drove to High Knob overlook which offered sweeping views of the Loyalsock State Forest before settling in back at the campsite. It was the perfect amount of hiking, site seeing and relaxing for a warm summer weekend.

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Camping at Worlds End State Park, Loyalsock State Forest, June 9 and 10, 2024

June 16, 2024

We spent a relaxing weekend camping at World’s End State Park. We did a few miles of hiking but didn’t commit ourselves to completing any particular trails. It was simply a weekend of relaxing by the fire, making s’mores, and enjoying nature and each other’s company.

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Worlds End State Park, Loyalsock State Forest, Canyon Vista Trail, 5 Miles RT, 780' +/-, May 18, 2024

May 18, 2024

This was our first Pennsylvania camping trip. It had been a long time, and I think the last time we used our overnight gear may have been when we backpacked the Mt. Whitney trail in the Eastern Sierra. I was excited to experience an overnight in the woods. Our previous overnights were high up in the mountains of California, a completely different experience. But I enjoy the woods and the quiet of the forest. I find being surrounded by lush green forest and birdsong very relaxing. The Wood Thrush and Ovenbirds are back for the season. They are my favorite sounds to hear while hiking through the dense woods.

We planned a night at the campground in Worlds End State Park. The camping here is much more modern than what I’m used to. There are modern bathrooms and even showers. I feel like I could get used to this. We chose one of the “walk-in” campsites. The walk isn’t far from the car but set back enough not to be right on the edge of the road that loops through the campground. We had a picnic table, fire ring, and there was even a tent pad with mulch.

When we arrived in the morning around 11:30 am, we stopped at the visitors’ center. We picked up a map and chatted with a very helpful woman at the center who showed us exactly where our tent site was and recommended some hikes. I’d already done my homework and knew I wanted to start with the Canyon Vista Trail which was the hike she recommended.

We left the center and parked at the campground heading towards Loyalsock Creek to begin the loop in a northeast direction. The first part of the loop took us around Loyalsock Creek just off the side of Route 154 across from the campground. There were fishermen here and the creek looked very pretty. The trail eventually crossed over the 154 and began to ascend switchbacks into a forest of hardwood and fern. Light rain fell off and on, but the temperature was warm. The forest looks like green technicolor in the rain. The trail met up with the Cold Run extension trail loop and we took a short side adventure to explore the impressive boulder formations that made me feel as though I was in Jurassic Park. I wondered how many millions or possibly billions of years old this geology was. We could have hiked the Cold Run loop and added another mile and a half, but with the weather being unpredictable, we opted to stay on the Canyon Vista trail and explore Cold Run another day. The forest had a heavy mist of fog lying low all around us. It was beautiful. When we made it to the top of the trail, there was a viewpoint overlooking Loyalsock Canyon. This is the most expansive forested area I have seen since being in Pennsylvania. Most of the views I have experienced in this state have been blocked by trees or they overlook farms or freeways. It’s been difficult adjusting to the lack of wild spaces like I was used to coming from out West, but Loyalsock was an exception. And while the mountains are not high peaks, the name of this range “Endless Mountains” was fitting. The vista is accessible by car and you can drive up from Mineral Springs Road if you don’t want to hike it. It is also ADA-accessible. After enjoying some time at the vista, we made our way back to camp, got a fire going and enjoyed the rest of the evening.

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Delaware Water Gap, Orchard Trail, Hamilton Ridge, Pioneer Trail, Van Campens Glen, 8 Miles RT, 1,003 +/-, April 14, 2024

April 14, 2024

Another day hike in the Delaware Water Gap, New Jersey side. We hiked from Millbrook Village on the Orchard Trail which connects to Hamilton Ridge. From Hamilton Ridge we took the Pioneer Trail, then took a spur trail down to the river and back then onward to Old Mine Road where we crossed and hiked through Van Campens Glen. We walked the last few miles back on the road. Old Mine Road is going to be closed for most of the summer due to construction. It should be a nice time to visit the Glen as many people will not want to hike in or walk the road to get to the waterfalls.

At the start of the Orchard Trail I saw Bluets (Houstonia caerulea) blooming. The first spring ephemerals are starting to pop out from under the leaf debris. I also saw a firefly that somehow found my hand. It seems like it’s much too early for them. The day started partly cloudy with some sun, but as we hiked the clouds began to darken the sky. I came across some bright orange Juniper apple-rush, something I’d never seen before. I’ve been using the Seek app (by iNaturalist) on my phone to identify the plants I see along the trail. I love learning as much as I can. As we reached the spur to the river, it began to rain. On the riverbank I saw Yellow Trout Lily and Dutchman’s Breeches. We ate a snack and by the time we were finished the sun was back out. I was glad we didn’t have to cut the day short. We proceeded on to Van Campens Glen. As always the glen was beautiful full of cascades and green moss. We took off our packs and laid on the rocks above the waterfall listening to the wind and soaking in the sunshine. I used my birding app to identify a bird I’d never heard before. I recorded its song and BirdNet suggested what I was hearing was a Louisiana Water Thrush, a new one for my life list.

We hiked out of the glen and then headed back to Millbrook Village on Old Mine Road. Along the way we passed a garter snake basking in the sun. Seems we weren’t the only ones taking advantage of a warm sunny day.

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Bear Creek Preserve, 7.9 Miles RT, 856' +/-, March 31, 2024

March 31, 2024

The day started cold and damp. The kind of dampness that chills to the bone. It had rained the night before and sections of the trail were mud which is mostly to be expected this time of year. But we continued our hike, hoping to see the sun eventually. We hiked through hardwood forest until we descended to the creek. We crossed the bridge and hiked through rhododendron tunnels, hemlock, and white pine. The bridge to return that crosses over Shades Creek further south of where we started was washed away. But I remembered there was another bridge further up the trail and luckily that one was intact. Once on the other side, we hiked to my favorite rocks on the creek's edge and sat down. We got lucky and the sun broke through the clouds. We spent a while there lounging around and soaking it in before heading back in a loop to complete the day.

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Delaware Water Gap, Blue Mountain Lakes, Hemlock Pond, AT Connector Loop, 8.6 Miles RT, February 4, 2024

February 04, 2024

It was a beautiful day and the weather was in the 30s. It was a nice day to hit the trail and take in the sunshine. We hiked from one of our favorite trailheads at Blue Mountain Lake. We followed the Blue Mountain Lakes trail to the northwest side of Hemlock Pond. From here we explored the Wood Road trail which continues onward in a northeast direction. This trail intersects with the trail to Buttermilk Falls which we did not take today. Instead we turned south and climbed steeply up the connector trail to the Appalachian trail to get to the ridge line. At the top of the climb, we looped back heading southwest to Hemlock Pond before returning to the trailhead. I was happy for the climb today and the extra added cardio.

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Nescopeck State Park, Snow Hike, 3.55 Miles, Januar 21, 2023

January 21, 2024

The temperatures have been below freezing and there were two snow storms this past week. We drove to Nescopeck State Park with the intention of a snow hike or possibly snowshoeing. When we arrived at approximately 11:15 am, the winds were gusting at around 16 mph, and the temperature was 20 degrees. The wind made it feel colder then it was. I opted to hike with microspikes because I did not do a very good job of checking my snowshoes and realized they’d need some adjustments. The snow level was about 4 inches over ice and easy to walk. I recalled the last time we were here, the Creekside Trail had a lot of mud, roots, downed trees and a few of the bridges were out.

We began the hike walking along the southern shore of Lake Frances heading onto the Nescopeck Trail. It was bitter cold, but the sun was shining, the forest looked lovely, and I warmed up as we hiked. The wind gusts seemed to lessen as we got further into the woods.

Hiking along the Creekside Trail, I heard the ice crack under the snow. I suspected this would be the case remembering that the last time I visited, much of this trail was very muddy. We had to cross the frozen creek a few times to continue the loop because of the bridges that remained broken.

Nonetheless, the waters of Nescopeck Creek were sparkling in the sunlight and glistening snow. I could hear black-capped chickadee in the trees and the forest was beautiful in all its winter glory.

After crossing a bridge that looked to have been repaired, we got on the Fern Trail to continue the loop. This trail took us away from the creek and into hardwoods. We passed a few cross-country skiers enjoying the day.

We took the Hill Trail to the turtle pond on the eastern side of Lake Frances. We stopped to listen to the quite and enjoy the stillness of the winter day.

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Janet Johnston Housenick & William D. Housenick Memorial Park, Winter Solstice Morning Walk, December 21, 2023

December 21, 2023

The Janet Johnston Housenick & William D. Housenick Memorial Park and Archibald Mansion has become my favorite place for a nearby walk, morning run or birdwatching. This is a birding hotspot! I’m starting to recognize the regulars who come every day with their binoculars and cameras. I discovered the park in October. I had no idea it was even here. There’s a paved walking path that’s great for running and exercising and afterwards, you can take a walk along the Monocacy Creek and past the Wetlands. Today I came with my husband for a slow, peaceful walk. There was quite a bit of bird action and we were treated to a a fox as he (or she) displayed her hunting skills as she/he caught what appeared to be a large rodent. There’s always something magical here at the park. I’ve spotted many species of birds including bald eagles, red tail hawks and pileated woodpeckers. Enjoy this short series of photos I took on our walk today on the morning of the winter solstice.

Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary, December 30, 2022

December 30, 2022

December walk at Mariton.

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The last of autumn at Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary, October 27, 2022

October 27, 2022

The trees remind us that we are shifting into the dark half of the year. Soon the vibrant, golds and yellows will be replaced with earthy brown and bark as the trees rest deep in the earth until Persephone emerges and spring will return once again.

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Late Afternoon Walk at Graver Arboretum, October 22, 2022

October 22, 2022

Late afternoon walk listening to the owls and enjoying the conifers at Graver Arboretum.

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Adirondack Park, Cat and Thomas Mountains, 7.8 Miles RT, 1,647' +/-, 2,031 Max Elevation, July 12, 2022

July 15, 2022

Today we hiked both Cat and Thomas Mountains. Both summits are part of the Lake George 12ster challenge. The day prior we had hiked hiked Sleeping Beauty, also part of the 12ster. So we’ve now done 3 of the 12 peaks should we decided to complete the challenge in the future. The weather was calling for potential severe thunder storms, so our Plan B was to just do Thomas if the weather decided to turn since we’d already hiked to the top of Cat the last time we were in the Adirondacks. At the start of the hike at the trailhead off Valley Woods Road we heard thunder. We began hiking but noted the time to see if we’d hear more rumbling. Luckily it seemed to pass, and when we reached the summit of Thomas the weather looked promising. We we decided to continue on to Cat Mountain and complete the loop. The hike to Thomas was fairly easy up an old carriage road. The summit opened up to beautiful views of Lake George. At one time there was a cabin on the summit, but it has since been taking down. Next we found the trail to continue on to Cat. From here the trail quickly made a steep beeline down. The trail had quite a bit of up and down and a few easy scrambles. When we arrived at the spur for Cat, we decided to hike up even though we’d done it before. The weather was still holding in our favor, so we took in the views and then made our way back down and back to the trailhead. The weather Gods must have been in our favor today because on the way out, the sky opened up and it began to pour. I was happy we were able to get in the two peaks in one hike. Another beautiful day in the ADK!

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Adirondack Park, Sleeping Beauty Mountain, Lake George Wild Forest, 4.6 Miles RT, 1,109' +/-, Max Elevation 2,347', July 11, 2022

July 11, 2022

We had a lovely hike to the summit of Sleeping Beauty Mountain in the eastern area of Adirondack Park in the Lake George Wild Forest. The hike was easy with some lovely switchbacks and a beautiful summit overlooking Lake George. We decided to add on some extra mileage by making the loop to Bumps Pond. It was absolutely beautiful and full of dragonflies and puddling butterflies. There’s a whole network of trails to explore in this area and I’m looking forward to coming back again for more hiking.

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