Leatherman's Cave Ward Pound Ridge

Shoes are nearing the end, but less dirty than usual

The old, famous oak tree that met its match with the rare storm events last year

The trail to the cave

Leatherman's Cave.  Slightly more than an overhang.

My familiarity with Ward Pound Ridge has been limited to the annual running of the Leatherman's Loop 10k.  After my 10th running of the Loop, I ventured over to the Leatherman's Cave.  The Leatherman's Loop is run on the opposite side of the park of where the cave is.

By request, inside "the cave"

After surviving the mud, stream crossings and the 80 foot quarry climb I ventured over to the cave.  Just a short drive outside the park, I found the trail that leads directly to the cave.  A roughly quarter mile walk led to the cave.  I planned to find only a rock overhanging the ground.  But it was a bit more than that.  The Leatherman's Cave could shelter a few people.  My guess is 3 to 4 could comfortably sleep inside.  It took ten Loops for me to finally check out the cave.  If I'm blessed to run another ten, maybe I'll explore the park more thoroughly.

Roosevelt Farm Road, Hyde Park, NY

On paper it looks like an impressive amount of trails and parks.

Spring is here!

I liked the use of road signs here

A walk through some pines

The farm road

Some of the walks that I've taken in the Hudson Valley have led me to the question, What's the best Hudson River town?  I don't have much doubt as to the worst, Hyde Park.  Hyde Park cannot make up its mind as to preserve its historical significance or continue never ending suburban sprawl.  It has more strip malls than good restaurants.  And much of those strip malls have vacancies.  It has one of the few McDonald's without its arches, but a Video Treats and Everready Diner with large neon signs.  You don't just pass through Hyde Park,  you constantly stop at lights for only one car.  I constantly think what a shame this place is.  But it does have some parks I'd like to check out and maybe it'll move up from its bottom ranking.  So I jumped at the chance to walk the Roosevelt Farm Road when Pat asked me.      

After work Pat and I walked Roosevelt Farm Road which connects the Eleanor Roosevelt home with the FDR home and presidential library.  Best suited for Hyde Park residents to ride their mountain bikes  (or an easy 4 mile run) or to take their dogs for a walk, but I'm still happy I made the trek down from Rhinebeck.  Nicely shaded, it'd make for a great walk on a hot summer day.  Most enjoyable were the wild cabbages sprouting up out of a marshy area and a section of pines.  I'll definitely plan on making a day of checking out both Roosevelt sites and the Vanderbilt Estate as they are connected via trails.  Now if only Hyde Park would get hold if it's lousy school and do something about it's ugly strip malls.  

 

Sunset over the Long Island Sound

Sunset over Oyster Bay

A short time later

The Long Island Sound looking over toward CT and Westchester

I had the pleasure of enjoying a beautiful sunset with my friend Laura.  Who says the east coast doesn't have nice sunsets?  I need to start cataloging the weather to help identify when there is going to be a great sunset.  Maybe my next gig will be as a sunset chaser.

Queens County High Point New York City

Queens High Point and all its glory

This may have been the least amount of effort I have ever done for a high point.  On the way to Long Island, I only had to pull over onto the service road of the Grand Central Parkway, get out of my car and walk a tiny bit, to summit the highest point in Queens.  Looking around, it did have a rise and appeared higher than anywhere else, but for the high rises.  At only 260 feet and how developed Queens is, it amazes me that anybody can figure out what the highest point actually is.

Trails at Rhinebeck Rec Park

Nice walk along the fields

Overcast much of the day

This marshy area will be much more alive very soon

The view towards Port Ewen

After finally completing my taxes, I took a stroll on some trails near the Rhinebeck Rec Park.  There were more to these trails than I thought.  I passed by the entrance to these trails countless times and decided it couldn't be all that interesting.

The trail first passes a frisbee golf course.  It then walks by some farm land.  Views across the river to some of the hills near Port Ewen can be seen.  It then makes it's way past some wetlands.  It being early spring, the swampy area came to life.  The out and back walk came to about 2 miles.  The sound of birds and the other critters let you know that Spring has arrived.

Rhinecliff

A building being shipped down the river

This boat sped on by

Tugboat

Rondout Lighthouse

The Rhinebeck Boat Launch at Rhinecliff is a great spot to take a little stroll.  Today I took a walk with one of the guys.  The fotos above are of some of the Hudson River boats you may see.

Easter in Harriman

Taking in the views

Looking towards Agony Grind

VPo loving the climb!

The views northwest

The MC showing us how it's done

Island Pond

Above Island Pond

VPo identifying the Shadbush

Chestnut Oaks?

The dynamite duo

Today I hiked with the dynamite duo of VPo and the MC.  I believe this is the first time I've hiked with both of them since I did the Ramapo-Dunderburg Trail.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day.  We parked at Arden Valley Road where the A.T. crosses the NYS Thruway.  A short loop that skirted the edge of Island Pond, it did not lack for climbs.  We ascended from the parking lot that afforded views west into Sterling State Park.  We then picked up the A.T. and ascended from Island Pond after the MC showed us how to walk across a downed tree.  VPo says Harriman is the greatest park in the U.S.  Who am I to disagree?

River Road Rhinebeck

The VPo Man with the Catskills in back of him

Chris hiker

River Road and the VPo Man.  It makes for a wonderful bicycle ride

River Road has some of the best views from in the Hudson Valley.  While driving to Harriman for a short hike, the VPo Man and I passed one of the many scenic sections of the road.  "That's a fucking awesome view" was our response.  Above are some of the shots I took.

April Full Moon

Waiting for sunset

Sunset over Slide and the central Catskills

Overlook and Kaaterskill High Peak

VPo

More sunset

VPo taking in the views

We waited longer than we thought.  But totally worth it.

VPo and the moon!

An amazing sight.  So round, orange and big.

Near the end of twilight

Burger Hill under the stars

With the weather being so absolutely gorgeous, it would have been a god damn shame to miss the sunset over the Catskills and a rising full moon.

The VPo  man and I headed over to Burger Hill.  An easy walk here leads to astounding views of the countryside and some of the most commanding views of the Catskills.  Windy as fuck, I wished I brought a jacket.  Nevertheless, it did not take away from a nice sunset and the perfectly circular orange moon.

As the sun set, we watched numerous stars begin to pop out.  Observing this, it amazed me how much brighter Venus is than anything else in the sky (except for the moon).  The Vpo Man and I overstayed our visit.  Burger Hill park closes at sunset and the gate gets locked.  The steward was kind enough to walk up and let us know he was closing.  We had a nice walk down and he seemed to appreciate the rising full moon.