Dippikill Mountain and Pond: 10/01/2017

We were looking for an easy, close-to-home hike on Sunday when I remembered Dippikill, the 850 acre camp just outside Warrensburg owned by the SUNY Albany Student Association. Dippikill's trail network is open to the general public, including a nice 4-mile loop that climbs 1600' Dippikill Mountain and circles Dippikill Pond.

Blue Mountain: 08/13/2017

We've knocked off plenty of the Adirondack "low peaks" on our family hikes over the past few years, but for some unknown reason we never got around to hiking Blue Mountain. With stunning lake and mountain views and a relatively easy ascent, Blue delivers a lot of bang for the buck.

Lake Bonita, Moreau Lake State Park: 11/13/2016

Ski season is almost here, but we were able to squeeze in another short hike close to home on one of the last really nice days of late fall. Lake Bonita is a recent addition to Moreau Lake State Park, with the official trail being marked just a few months ago.

Cobble Ledge: 11/06/2016

Sunday November 6 was my birthday (39 again!), and while it would have been fun to ski on my birthday, that wasn’t in the cards for this year. Instead, we fit in a quick hike on a new (2014) trail that I’ve been wanting to check out. As a bonus, the cold front that had swept through overnight left behind a nice coating of snow to let us know that winter’s on its way.

Catamount Mountain: 10/10/2016

Tucked away in an off-the-beaten path corner of the Adirondacks, Catamount Mountain wasn't even on my radar screen until just a few years ago. Now I've got a new favorite hike.

We climbed Catamount on the Monday of Columbus Day weekend and hit the jackpot with a combinaton of crisp temperatures, a cloudless blue sky and peak foliage.

Cobble Hill, Lake Placid: 10/09/2016

We were in Lake Placid over Columbus Day weekend and had a couple hours free Sunday afternoon, so we decided to check out a Cobble Hill, a short hike that's been on my to-do list for a few years. Cobble Hill has long been a favorite quick jaunt of Lake Placid locals, but what caught my attention was its short-lived history as a downhill ski area in the late 1950s (more on that shortly).

Meade and Beckman Mountains: 09/25/2016

Once school starts up it seems we always have trouble finding the time to fit in a family hike. We had a half day available Sunday afternoon, so we made the quick drive up the Northway to do another one of the Chester Challenge hikes: Meade and Beckman Mountains. Like the other hikes we've done in the Chester Challenge, Meade and Beckman Mountains is short and easy but offers up some great views.

Peaked Mountain: 07/17/2016

They say that variety is the spice of life. In my opinion it’s also one of the keys to a successful family hike. My kids are all about the streams, waterfalls, woods, ponds, plants, wildlife, wetlands, cliffs, caves, cabins and fire towers along the way that make the hike interesting. For them, getting to the top of some mountain just for a view is “boring.” Well, you can’t beat the hike to Peaked Mountain Pond and up Peaked Mountain for variety, so off we set this past weekend.

Sleeping Beauty Mt: 06/12/2016

We've done Sleeping Beauty as a family hike in the past, but on a cold (temperatures in the low 50s), blustery mid-June Sunday the kids' enthusiasm level for hiking hovered between 0 and 1 on a ten-point scale. So the kids stayed with the grandparents while Beth and I did the hike. Win - win.

Shelving Rock Mtn: 05/21/2016

We've had a bit of difficulty getting our hiking days in this spring. It seems that we've had commitments when the weather's been good, and when we're free the weather's been lousy. I thought we'd finally break that pattern last weekend. Five days out the forecast for Saturday looked stellar. Next thing I know, it's mostly cloudy, chance of showers. Unwilling to keep the hiking boots in the closet any longer, we headed up the east shore of Lake George to hike Shelving Rock Mountain anyway. The gamble paid off with a great hike, beautiful views and tons of spring wildflowers.

Kipp Mountain: 04/17/2016

With an early end to the winter that wasn't and beautiful weather on tap for the weekend, we jumped on the opportunity to break out our hiking boots for an easy, close to home outing. Kipp Mountain is one of several small peaks in the Chestertown area that are part of the Chester Challenge: complete 6 out of the 10 hikes and you're awarded a pin and certificate. You can read more about the Chester Challenge in this blog post that I wrote last Fall.

Spruce Mountain: 10/18/2015

Saratoga County has a new hiking trail. Earlier this month the Department of Environmental Conservation announced the opening of a 1.2 mile trail up Spruce Mountain in Corinth, a 2000’ summit with a newly restored fire tower. We hiked the new trail on Sunday, and got our first taste of winter at the same time with temperatures in the 20s and 30s and pockets of snow on the ground.

Hurricane Mountain: 10/11/2015

If you're planning on hiking in the High Peaks region this fall hopefully you got up there over Columbus Day weekend. The colors will hang on for another weekend or two, especially at low elevation, but the foliage for the holiday weekend was as peak as it's gonna get this year. With three days straight of gorgeous weather, we decided to hike Hurricane Mountain, the popular 3700' peak in Keene that is well known for its panoramic views of the High Peaks.

Stewart Mountain and the Chester Challenge: 10/04/2015

Our family hike up Stewart Mountain Sunday morning was embarrassingly short, but it gave us the opportunity to check out a terrific new initiative by the Town of Chester to promote family-friendly hikes. The hike is just a mile (round trip!), but it offers great views of Loon Lake, Gore Mountain and other peaks and hills of the southern Adirondacks.

Exploring Chimney Mountain's Eagle Cave: 08/09/2015

It seems like the junior spelunkers in our family have been asking me all summer long "When are we going back to Eagle Cave?" We had explored the entrance and upper reaches of the cave on a trip back in mid-June, but had turned around when we reached a point where a rope would be necessary to explore further. This time we came prepared.

The Pinnacle: 08/08/2015

In a textbook example of environmental groups, local government and citizens working together, the Lake George Land Conservancy just last month closed on its purchase of the prominent peak outside Bolton Landing known as The Pinnacle. The closing was the culmination of more than 5 years of negotiations to protect the parcel. A trail has been marked and is now open to the public leading to the spectacular summit overlooking Lake George. We hiked the new trail this past Saturday.

The trail can best be described in one word: easy. That's not to say that you don't have to work for the view, but it's as easy as 400 vertical feet and a mile each way can be. I'm seriously considering bringing my parents up, and they're in their upper 70s (now I'll find out if they really read my blog). The route follows a jeep trail that would have been the driveway leading to 3 homesites on the ridgetop, climbing rather steeply at times but with good footing and a steady grade. Compared to the rough jeep road up Thomas Mountain (another nearby LGLC site), the Pinnacle trail is much easier.

Hiking at Moreau Lake State Park: 07/11/2015

Family plans kept us close to home last weekend, but we managed to squeeze in a quick half-day hike at Moreau Lake State Park. Visitors come in throngs for the park's beach and campground, but many are unaware of the park’s wild side – nearly 5000 acres of rugged forest on both sides of a scenic stretch of the Hudson River.

Pok-o-Moonshine Mtn.: 06/27/2015

Weather forecasters had been predicting a washout weekend for days, but as the details solidified it appeared we'd have a reliable window of clear and dry weather for at least the first half of Saturday. Looking to beat out the approaching storm, the kids and I got an early start and headed due north to hike Pok-o-Moonshine Mountain, the prominent peak visible from the Northway between exits 32 and 33.

Poko's fire tower

Goodnow Mountain: 06/14/2015

The weekend weather was again ideal for hiking, and we headed up to Goodnow Mountain, the small but popular peak just outside of Newcomb. Frequently cited for having one of the best views for the effort – and I know I’m losing credibility since I’ve said that about so many of the Adirondacks’ lesser peaks – Goodnow really delivers some eye popping views, as long as you’re willing to climb the 60’ fire tower.

Goodnow's 60' fire tower

Chimney Mountain and Eagle Cave: 06/07/2015

With brilliant blue skies, crisp morning temperatures and the bright green foliage of early summer, this weekend brought hiking conditions that easily rivaled the best days of fall. I get why hikers rave about fall, but I’d rather have the longer days, wildflowers and the promise of an entire season ahead.

Our family hike Sunday took us to Chimney Mountain. Despite its relatively low summit elevation (2700’), Chimney boasts a spectacular panoramic view of the central Adirondacks. But what really makes Chimney Mountain unique in the Adirondacks is its fascinating geology.