Cabin Fever

We had a little unseasonably warm weather last week, but there's nothing like the month of March to remind you that the title Spring Equinox has no impact on the actual weather where I live. It was disappointing to see a dusting of snow this morning and the prediction of single digit low temperatures on my weekend off from work. I did not get much snowshoeing in this winter, as most of the snow hit farther south. Needless to say, I'm starting to feel cooped up and I can't wait to get outside for some hiking!

The local bike path is clear of snow and Sister and I took our bikes out after I got out of work last weekend, thanks to the Daylight Savings time change. The canal seemed unusually low for this time of year and the waterfalls at the Five Combines were a little weak, but it did feel great to get on the bike again.


I hope to get at least five high peaks between late spring and mid-autumn, and we're looking at the possibility of at least a ladies only camping trip. I intend to ride my bike locally whenever possible - thank you Google Maps for the bike route options now!

I leave you now with a new listing, Earth. It's a nice spring through fall piece, perhaps something for Earth Day, or to wear when you are at work, when you'd rather be outside. As the toggle clasp says, "Peace begins with a Smile."

Pillsbury Mt Fire Tower: Bike and Hike

My guide books warned of bad road conditions between Rt 30 and the parking lot at the trail head. When it comes off-road driving with my car, a little Corolla, I am always afraid it's going to get stuck somewhere and that I will not be able to get it out. My husband and I had a bad experience driving it to a campground down in the Catskills last summer, I was in a state of hysteria and I wasn't even the one driving!

My dentist's assistant had mentioned that she rode her bike in when climbing Pillsbury, so we decided to do it that way. We probably could have safely driven in farther than we did but I assured Sister that biking in would be a lot less worse than being stuck in the car with hysterical me.


WOW. For the 3+ miles from where I parked to the trail head we had to alternate walking with biking, and we encountered a lot of unfriendly sand. There were parts where I said "I could have totally gotten my car in here" followed by.... "I am SO GLAD I didn't take my car in here." However, there were a few little sedans in parking lot that apparently made it in without harm. Nonetheless, it certainly added to the adventure. We would not have gotten to see the snake if we drove in. And we wouldn't have been able to say we did it!


For an easy 1.6 mile walk to the summit, the trail seemed to last forever! It probably had something to do with the 3 mile bike ride in, but after a while we began to have tower mirages, which is a phrase we made up for when you are so ready to see the tower that you actually start to think that trees and branches are the tower up ahead.

On the way up we saw toads, wild flowers which Sister can name, and a dead moth with a pattern on its underside that resembled two eyes staring up at us.



The tower is climbable but the cab is not accessible. The fierce wind forced us to hurry back down to the ground not giving us time to look for other mountains such as Snowy and Wakely which also have fire towers.


There is a nice little bench and a wooden ergonomically designed makeshift chair surrounding a fire pit where we enjoyed our lunch.



Round trip from the time we left the car on our bikes to the return to the car was about 4 hours. This included a total of 6 miles biking and 3.2 miles hiking. Not too bad.



Elevation change: 1337
Total Elevation: 3597
Round trip from trail head: 3.2 miles

Click here to see all the pictures.

June 2009 Outdoorsy Carnival

Welcome to the June 1, 2009 edition of an outdoorsy carnival.

Advice Column

Luca presents Plan a Perfect BBQ Party posted at Home and Family Info.

Gregory E. Rouse presents Wilderness Survival posted at Wilderness-Survival-Skills Blog, saying, "We live our lives in a modern society where we know many points of reference and can almost always find help. The problem (or blessing depending on how you look at it) with the wilderness is that when trouble hits, we’re usually on our own."

Barbara Boucher presents TherExtras: Camping is life. posted at TherExtras, saying, "Encouraging parents to take their children camping."

Strenua presents Step out from the shade, sunshine is good for you. posted at Strenua's expedition along the road to health and fitness.

Aquatic Life

Marina K. Villatoro presents Daily Costa Rica - Sunset posted at The Travel Expert(a), saying, "Hi, this is an aquatic life category picture of a sunset on a beach!"

Joshua presents Tips for Learning during Summertime posted at Family and Parenting, saying, "Even though it is summertime, it is a good idea to keep your child's mind active."

Green Thumb

FitBuff presents Top 4 Raw Food Diets Resources posted at FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog, saying, "Raw food diets are gaining popularity, and if you're already outdoorsy, the simple and natural aspects of this style of eating may appeal to you too..."

Brooke Allen presents Lost in Translation posted at Rambling Brooke.

Lindsay presents Should You Order Beneficial Insects for Your Garden? posted at Off the Urban Grid.

Gregory E. Rouse presents Gardening Plants - Friends and Foes posted at Raised-Bed-Gardening Blog, saying, "My last post talked about plant families, which is a great way to start your planting, but once you understand basic families, there are families that like to be neighbors and even thrive around each other. Learning which plants are friends and which plants are foes is the way to take your garden planting to the next level."

Jessica Reeder presents Agritourism | Uprooted posted at Uprooted.

Bobbie Whitehead presents Plant A Row For Hungry posted at Bobbie Whitehead.

Buck Weber presents Six Great Gardening Websites posted at THE BUCK LIST, saying, "I have put together a few favorite sites that could be beneficial for both those just getting started gardening and the old green thumbed pros."

Sandy Wong presents Guidelines and Basic Tips of Drilling Drainage Hole on Garden Container | Gardening on Cloud 9 posted at Gardening on Cloud 9, saying, "We know that good drainage is the key to healthy plants, but the containers that we find most attractive are often the ones without drainage holes. But we can drill the drainage holes by ourselves, and it is much easier than what most of us would expect. All we need is an electric drill and steady hands. And here, let me show you how to drill holes on our containers."

Strenua presents Grow your own 5 a day posted at Strenua's expedition along the road to health and fitness.

In the Woods

A Keeper's Jackpot presents Poke-O-Moonshine posted at A Keeper's Jackpot.

Gregory E. Rouse presents 21 Tips on Sleeping Warm posted at Wilderness-Survival-Skills Blog, saying, "Sleeping warm is one of the key factors that can make or break an adventure. For a good nights sleep on your next adventure, you may choose to use some or all of the tips listed."

thebarefootbadger presents In Search of the Cassowary posted at The Barefoot Badger, saying, "An tropical encounter with Australia's second largest land bird."

Shannon ODonnell presents a little haze…where are the mountains? posted at a little adrift: a rtw travelogue, saying, "Trekking the Poon Hill circuit of the Annapurnas."

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Fun Day Trip With Kids, Thomas The Tank Engine Style posted at The Digerati Life, saying, "Thanks!"

Open Air

Gregory E. Rouse presents Eagle Cap Wilderness-Lakes Basin posted at Wilderness-Trails Blog, saying, "The Eagle Cap Wilderness lies in the heart of the Wallowa Mountains in Northeastern Oregon on the Wallowa -Whitman National Forest. It was the summer home to the Cheif Joseph Band of the Nez Perce tribe and was used as hunting grounds for bighorn sheep, deer and to gather huckleberries."

Luca presents Planning a BBQ Clambake Party posted at Home and Family Info.

GP presents Roundup’s on the Rider’s Creed « Manely Montana posted at Manely Montana, saying, "Nothing like the great outdoors to make you realize your potential"

Von Marshall presents Custom Golf Clubs posted at The Golf Blogger - Golf Tips - Strategies - Golf resources - Learn to Play Golf, saying, "Every golfer’s physical capability and swing is distinctive. plenty of of today’s best golf clubs can be custom fit for lie angle, shaft type and length, grip type and size. Custom fitting golf clubs involves several easy measurements and a fast self-assessment of your game. This custom golf club has become over a fad that even not so professional golfers check its waters."

Sean Reynolds presents European Motorcycle Trip posted at Creativity.

AdmirableIndia.com presents Maitri Bagh, Bhilai: Part 1 posted at AdmirableIndia.com.

Madeleine Begun Kane presents Pedestrian Plea posted at Mad Kane's Humor Blog.

Outdoor Olympians

Colin Timberlake presents My First Marathon: Remixes, iPods and Rookie Mistakes posted at colintimberlake.com, saying, "The story of my impromptu first marathon and how NOT to run one!"

A Keeper's Jackpot presents Bike and Hike: Warren County Bike Trail posted at A Keeper's Jackpot.

NAOMI presents THOUSANDS JOIN FORCES TO RUN LONDON MARATHON posted at Diary From England.

Peter Jones presents Trail Running South Boulder Peak Via Shadow Canyon: Getting Read for the Mountain Running Season posted at Rocky Mountain Raider: Telemark Skiing, Bouldering, and Trail Running in Colorado.

Strenua presents GB look to capitalise on home advantage at Euro Canoe Championships posted at Strenua's expedition along the road to health and fitness.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of
an outdoorsy carnival
using our
carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our

blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags:

an outdoorsy carnival, blog carnival.

Bike and Hike: Warren County Bike Trail to French Mountain

It was brought to my attention recently that there is a trail up French Mountain accessible from the Warren County Bike Trail. Sister and I jumped on the bike trail by the Cooper's Cave ice cream window in Glens Falls and rode toward Lake George. After crossing Rt 149, you go about a mile, and on the right there are some rocks painted blue and an arrow pointing right off of the bike trail. This is near the large rock with the Russian flag painted on it, and it is just beyond the Colonel Williams Monument, which is on the left. Climb up the blue painted rocks and then follow the foot trail marked with blue blazes.

Start Here

It might be a half hour up the trail to the summit, and a relatively easy climb. The trees are a little overgrown at top, but you can see the newest ride at The Great Escape, the Tee-Pee, Uncle Sam, Prospect Mountain, the southern tip of Lake George, and other regional landmarks. There is not a bike rack at the trail head, so you will need to lock up on a tree.



Along the trail are places to stop and read about the history of the area, particularly its involvement in the French and Indian War. We decided that a bike and hike was enough exercise, so we didn't go all the way into Lake George this time. To see all of my pictures, click here.

An Outdoorsy Carnival - September, 2008

Welcome to the September 1, 2008 edition of an outdoorsy carnival. Thanks to everyone that participated.

Advice Column

Mike Bergin presents Like Learning Physics posted at 10,000 Birds, saying, "Here's a post by guest blogger Debra Ross on how much fun it is to learn something new such as identifying birds with a field guide!"

Ena Clewes presents Dealing With Garden Pests the Organic Way - Gardening Articles - Organic Gardening posted at Organic Gardening, saying, "For many gardeners, a good offense is better than a good defense when it comes to pests in the garden."

Aquatic Life

lorie presents Rice and Beans and Other Fine Things: Log Jumping 101 posted at Rice and Beans and Other Fine Things, saying, "Canoeing in Mississippi. This happens all the time."

Green Thumb

Mark J. Donovan presents Winterizing a Garden posted at HomeAdditionPlus, saying, "Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com discusses the steps in preparing your garden for winter."

P.L. Frederick presents The Thing About A Sting posted at Small and Big, saying, "You can learn a lot from a talking honeybee."

Barbara Schreiber presents The Garden Gnome Addiction (It's Global!) | Britannica Blog posted at Britannica Blog, saying, "Entertaining blog about the origin of garden gnomes."

AdmirableIndia.com presents Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore: Part 1: Ancient Watch Tower and Organic Cultivation posted at AdmirableIndia.com.

Piedro Molinero presents Rose Gardening posted at DIY Gardening Tips.

In the Woods

Madeleine Begun Kane presents Surmounting Marriage posted at Mad Kane's Humor Blog.

A Keeper's Jackpot presents Tour of Balsam Lake Mountain posted at A Keeper's Jackpot.

Brian Jay Stanley presents The Wilderness No Longer Feels Wild posted at Aphorisms and Paradoxes.

Open Air

GrrlScientist presents American Avocet 5 posted at Living the Scientific Life, saying, "[wildlife photography] American Avocet, Recurvirostra americana, in flight over Bolivar Flats, Texas."

Vidyut presents A filly injured by a bear was saved by love and care | Footprints on the Mountainside posted at Footprints on the Mountainside, saying, "A true story from the time when I was a nomadic horsewoman in the Himalaya and the satisfaction of having made a difference."

NAOMI presents BRITISH CHILREN DON'T LIKE THE COUNTRYSIDE posted at Diary From England.

AdmirableIndia.com presents Pearl Valley or Muthyala Maduvu, Karnataka posted at AdmirableIndia.com.

James Hills presents Wild Dunes Resort in Charleston, SC posted at Man Tripping - Guys Getways and Mancations, saying, "I had a chance to visit Wild Dunes last year and it really stood out as a very nice golf resort that felt close to nature and wide open. Plus they have some great mancation packages for guys who love to mix golf with great beach activities."

Jeff Sullivan presents Silver Dollar City In Branson, Missouri posted at Branson Travel Attractions.

Jason Rusch presents What About White Boxer Dogs? posted at boxerdogessentials.com.

Outdoor Olympians

A Keeper's Jackpot presents Charles Lathrop Pack Demonstration Forest posted at A Keeper's Jackpot.

Jacob presents I just rotated my bicycle tires to make them last longer posted at Early Retirement Extreme.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of
an outdoorsy carnival
using our
carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our

blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags:

an outdoorsy carnival, blog carnival.

Charles Lathrop Pack Demonstration Forest

Press Play to hear "Bicycle Race" by Queen

I got a bike rack at Walmart a few weeks ago, and the weather has been laughing at me ever since. Fed up with "chance of showers" but excited that for once there was no chance of thunder storms, Sister and I challenged the skies to a bike ride. I've never hooked up a bike rack before and was a little leery of the half hour drive to our destination with bikes held by 4 straps on my trunk.


The bikes made it safely to the Charles Lathrop Pack Demonstration Forest, near Warrensburg, NY. The forest was named after wealthy lumber man Charles Lathrop Pack, who donated the land to SUNY-ESF for student studies.

A memorial to Charles Lathrop Pack and his wife

At the registration station, there is a little mailbox labeled brochures... All that was left for us was a couple candy wrappers. With no map or informational guide; it was up to us to do some exploration on our own.

A handicap accessible nature trail takes you through a loop around the forest where you see The Grandmother Tree, a white pine over 315 years old and over 175 feet tall! This tree has been protected in a 50 acre area by the college, in tradition with Margaret Woodward's wishes. Margaret and John Woodward used to own the land. John wanted to cut down the tree for lumber to sell so that he'd have enough money to buy his wife a set of dishes for their anniversary. His wife would not allow it, saying she'd rather go without the dishes than lose the tree.

The Grandmother Tree

There are over 10 miles of trail throughout the land, and we covered a decent amount. We came across the Pack Forest Camp, where we saw a dinner hall serving food to the campers. We laughed at the cabin called Spruce because Sister and I joke that everything is named Spruce in the Adirondacks. I actually have a map of a particular region of the Adirondacks where you can see three Spruce Mountains. The forest is over 2500 acres, and the trails are good for walking, biking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. There are fishing and canoe access sites as well.

A little stream

See the rest of my pictures from the Pack Forest here.

Information from:

www.northwarren.com/index/hiking
www.placewiki.com/viewplace_detail.php?placeID=180
www.esf.edu/communications/news/2002/06.04.hike.htm