A girl's got to ride too...

I saw this walking home from work.  A barrette will travel...

4-28-12 Sterling Fall Gorge

It has been a long time since I have travelled back to Sterling Fall Gorge but today, after deciding against trying for a peak, it was the logical choice.  Always quiet, lots of trails to explore and some fun running.  Again, like Mt. Worchester I wasn't expecting more than a dusting of snow and I wanted to try out my new minimalist trail shoes.  Which are meant for summer.  And this was the trail that greeted me...

 At first I thought that it was all going to be like this which was fine.  I had thrown on wool socks in case my feet got wet and if I was careful no problems.

 A trillium I believe poking out of the snow.

 These are the new shoes.  And this is where I realized that the snow was only going to get deeper.

 And it did. Around 3-6 inches for the most part.  Oddly even though my feet were getting soaked they weren't getting that cold due to the fact I was running in parts (which warms you up) and the wool socks.

 It was beautiful, muddy and snowy all at the same time.  I had a lot of fun running, a true challenge.

 Thank god I didn't have to ford this one, there was a bridge.  The streams were damn cold as I had to discover occasionally.

 Sal, intrigued by one thing or another.

 Totally classy.  Some people do this stuff and look hip.  Not me.  But I like to think I have more fun.

 A cool frozen puddle with an island.  Sal decided he needed to be in the shot.

The actual gorge part.  Since the ground was a bit slippery with snow I decided not to try to get a better shot.  It was amazing how well my new shoes gripped and that my feet didn't freeze.  A truly fun day and if my feet hadn't gotten so wet I might have continued on for longer.  Another time.

4-14-12 Mt. Worchester

With Such an odd winter I finally decided to go after a peak for the first time in a while.  It was an unseasonably warm day so I headed to Mount Worchester hoping it would be deserted.  I was correct, one one other person on the trail.

 At first it was pleasant, not very muddy and no snow.  I was wearing my new balance minimal running shoes  so I was glad because they certainly cannot take snow.

 I called this the throne, it is hard to see here but it makes a massive seat, perhaps for a giant.

 However, as I got higher I started to see snow.  At first it wasn't a problem but then it started to get deep.

At this point it was about 5 inches or more in places.  My shoes are well worn and deciding that given the cold snow chilling my feet and the way I was sliding all over the place it made sense to turn around.

 I was very close to the peak, maybe a half mile, probably less.  Oh well, rather not risk injury or frostbite when I am alone.  And next time wear gators to prevent snow getting down the sides of the shoes.

 One the return I saw this off the side of the trail.  Sal was interested.  On the side of it was painted "1 down, 28 to go!"

 Also someone left these glass beads hanging from a tree.  No clue.

 Sal was quit happy with the exercise.

When I got home I couldn't help myself and drove out to Shelburne Bay again to kayak for an hour or so.  I The water was so clear I could see to the bottom and I followed the shoreline looking down.  I saw a little trash but also discovered the remains of a breaker and collapsed dock as well.  

Budo

I had a realization tonight after Aikido, the martial way is not that control but rather of certainty.  It is not that the world you face is set, but rather as it ebbs and flow you are certain of yourself in its grasp.  When I strike correctly my certainty of its completion or contact is what makes it unblockable or in Aikido, when you move, you move with certainty into someone else's space and displacing them by will rather than strength.  It is with certainty you make your choices and face their consequences unflinchingly.  The Zen path is to achieve clarity in order to see the World as it truly is.  The Budo path to then find certainty in action and cut through to the other side.

4-1-12 CAT trail meander

I have been up the parts of the CAT trail network many times, both when there is snow and when there isn't.  One day I decided to detour on what looked like a logging road that went off the main trial and found a really cool spot.  After a long day and feeling antsy I returned to explore both sides despite gray threatening skies.

 I followed a stream in and found a truly beautiful spot (which I will have to return to with a tent at some point). 

Smaller stream fed into the larger one, the ravine cut by the main stream was quite large and steep.

 I sat for a bit and just watched the water and pondered.  So much to ponder.

 On the other side and even larger stream had cut out smoothed basins.  When it gets to the hotter points of summer I may have to return for a dip into these waters.

 It is hard to capture with an iPhone how deep it was but I was careful around its edges for good reason.

 Further upstream it widened from what I imagine was the Irene floods.  The bank was badly cut away and on the other side was a huge landslide at least 40 feet tall.

I hiked out just as it started to rain.  Manage to run into absolutely no on, which was fine with me.

3-31-12 Mount Philo and Button Bay

The lat time I was at Mount Philo, it's ice covered trails are exactly what convinced me to get ice spikes.  This time the trails were clear even though it was around 40 degrees.  A visiting friend an I took Sal up the trails for some fun.

 The trail we took lead us around the base of the cliffs that make up most of Mount Philo. It wove in and out of the rocks.

 Sal as always enjoyed some rock climbing while waiting for us to catch up.

And he found a small cave.

 It was a really cool area, the cedar trees jutted out of the cliff above.

 At the base there were little rock piles made out of the fallen debris by the hikers.  This one was the coolest by far.

 At the top was the usually beautiful view with the Adirondacks spread out below.

 There were a couple of people at the top enjoying the view.

It is not summer yet but it was a great day for this short hike, afterwards we decided to travel over to Button Bay because it was too nice to head home.