Hiking in the Black Rock Forest of NY

[beanbag]

On the one hand, I've been doing a lot of hikes with the family lately, which is great. On the other, finding time to post is a bit of a challenge. Thanks to all who post on a regular basis. It's fairly time consuming.

Here are some pictures from one of our recent outings to the Black Rock Forest. This place skirts the northern border of the U.S.Military Academy at West Point. During the whole hike we could hear, and feel, artillery pounding from the firing range. Some people, and a lot of dogs, don't like that, but I do.

Some Hiking:

Some psychedelic looking fungi:

Son of and Mrs. Beanbag at the lower falls:

River crossings:

Up to the top:

Collecting blueberries (some actually made it home) and consulting the map:

Great crop this year:

This guy was hanging out too:

After a couple of hours hiking we made it to Sutherland Pond, a nice big lake which we had to ourselves for lunch and a swim:

More Hiking, fungus and river crossings:

Son of Beanbag got a nice shot of this guy:

We made it back to the falls and climbed up to the top:

Cooling off after a long hike:

Good times. I brought my Breeden Pathfinder (Thanks for selling it to me RockyWolf) and an SAK, but didn't use them.

The next day we enjoyed the fruits of our labor with some wild blueberry pancakes:

Thanks for looking.

Beanbag out.

 

[the rat]

Thanks for taking us along. Looks like a great time by all.

 

[CR33]

looks like an awesome time. thx for sharing great pics.

 

[jacksterp]

That's a great series of photos. Really enjoyed them and the pancakes look delicious.

 

[Mistwalker]

Some great photos BB. I know what you mean. I used to spend a lot of time in the woods near Fort Benning and whenever they were doing FTXs it was pretty cool in a way. Nice shot of that Garter snake.

 

[beanbag]

Nice shot of that Garter snake.

Garter Snake. Whew. They all look the same to me. Last time I was summer hiking in this general vicinity I ran into this:

 

[Mistwalker]

Is that a timber rattler? Their colors are different down here.

I know garter snakes pretty well, I had the same teacher for 10th and 11th grade biology and he had a pet garter snake that I sat right beside for two years.I like having them around the house too as like black snakes they eat mice

 

[RickJ]

Beanbag,

Guess what, I have been there, I was on a detail to help train West Point Cadets over a Summer in 1997! I have been in the same location as some of your pics! thanks!

 

[Sylvan]

That last photo is definitely a timber rattle snake. Years ago, I almost stepped on one in the woods. You're lucky to have gotten such a nice view of one.

 

[Slider817]

Thanks so much for the pics. I line in NYC and I think you inspired me to pick myself up this weekend and go hiking in Harimon

 

[lambertiana]

Great pics, looks like a fun place to go.

When I lived in upstate NY, I always liked to find the old stone fences in the middle of the woods. It makes you wonder about the people who cleared the land and farmed it before eventually abandoning it.

 

[beanbag]

Thanks for taking us along. Looks like a great time by all.

looks like an awesome time. thx for sharing great pics.

That's a great series of photos. Really enjoyed them and the pancakes look delicious.

Great pics, looks like a fun place to go.

Thank you, and you're welcome.

I haven't posted in a while and I forgot how time consuming the whole photo posting process is.

The Great Outdoors sub-forum is really quite lucky to have so many consistent and prolific contributors. Thanks again to all of them.

Is that a timber rattler? Their colors are different down here.

That last photo is definitely a timber rattle snake. Years ago, I almost stepped on one in the woods. You're lucky to have gotten such a nice view of one.

Yup, it sure is.

This type is know as a "Yellow Phase" timber rattler. Here is a link from the NYDEC with more info.: Timber Rattlesnake Fact Sheet

I have two more pictures of it. He was about 10 miles SW of where we were for this hike, near Pine Meadow Lake in Harriman State Park.

I'd estimate his size at 5-6', and very thick.

The rattle.

Beanbag,

Guess what, I have been there, I was on a detail to help train West Point Cadets over a Summer in 1997! I have been in the same location as some of your pics! thanks!

Awesome. What kind of training?

Thanks so much for the pics. I line in NYC and I think you inspired me to pick myself up this weekend and go hiking in Harriman

Sounds good. If you need any trail reccos. drop me a PM.

 

[TheGame]

Thanks for the pics. The water makes for a soothing pic.

Although I don't like rattlers. (Any other snake I am fine with, just not those...)

 

[RickJ]

Beanbag,

Basic Combat skills! I am in the Army and my Unit at the time, 10th MTN went down from Fort Drum to train cadets, it happens every summer but the Units change that conducts the training.

 

[Tyronethepro]

Nice pics. I wish there was scenery like that where I hike.

 

[sicily02]

Very cool pics, I just love the ones of the water falls, that rattler pics were awesome.
looks like a great time out.
Bryan

 

[beanbag]

Thanks for the pics. The water makes for a soothing pic.

Although I don't like rattlers. (Any other snake I am fine with, just not those...)

Yeah, I don't like Rattlers either.

This is the third one I've seen in my life and although it was the biggest, it only rattled and never tried to strike. The other two both made strikes.

The first one was about 20 years ago on a all day hike from Tuolumne Meadows down to Yosemite Valley. My buddy was ahead of me, and when he came around a bend in the trail, a rattler struck him on the boot with no warning then held its ground for quite a while.

My second rattler encounter was in Harriman State Park about 5 miles from where I took the pictures. This time I was cruising down a dirt road on my mountain bike. I saw what I thought was a branch in the middle of the road, but when I got about 10-15 yards away, the snake struck out. I was able to safely stop. The snake slithered off the road and only then rattled.

Beanbag,

Basic Combat skills! I am in the Army and my Unit at the time, 10th MTN went down from Fort Drum to train cadets, it happens every summer but the Units change that conducts the training.

That sounds like a good experience for everyone.

Nice pics. I wish there was scenery like that where I hike.

I did have to drive about an hour to get there.

Very cool pics, I just love the ones of the water falls, that rattler pics were awesome.
looks like a great time out.
Bryan

Thanks.

BTW, here is a picture of that Pathfinder you made.

When I got it from RockyWolf he said "this one has a lot of life left in it," however based on his pictures I was dubious. But, I've had it for a while now and use it often. In fact, I've beaten the crap out of it with cross-grain, tip-first, and regular battoning- Turns out Wolf was right. This is one tough blade and it's still going strong.:thumbup: