June Newsletter 2021
Sara Tenney Trail, Entering the northern trail loop with views east to the Greylock Range. Pic by K Ross
Fall Gathering and Annual Dinner Save the date! Plans are underway to hold a THC Fall Gathering on Saturday, October 2, at Grafton Lakes State Park. We will meet in the morning and start with a brief meeting and a “must be there to win” raffle. We can split into a couple of groups to hike, and another group can paddle on Long Pond. We can check out the new turnpikes and other trail improvements on the Long Pond trail or hike around Shaver Pond or choose another option! Everyone is invited to bring their own lunch and stay to enjoy with the group after hiking or paddling. More details to be provided as we get closer to the date!
We hope to be able to have an annual dinner this year! We are tentatively planning on holding the event the evening of Thursday, November 4 in the Albany area. We will keep you posted as we finalize the details.
Ride the new Electric Trail!
The Taconic Hiking Club recently held a well-attended first bike outing on the new Albany-Hudson Electric Trail (AHET) or as it is called, the “Electric Trail.” It is an impressive accomplishment and a delight to ride. The fact that Cuomo was successful in his efforts to complete the 750-miles of the Empire State Trail in record time means we are lucky to have in our “neighborhood” this beautifully designed, well signed, and interesting biking and walking segment.
If you haven’t tried it out yet, here is some information.
The 36-mile gently graded route runs from the city of Rensselaer to the town of Greenport (near Hudson) on mostly new and wide paved or crushed stone paths. In some parts it runs along a road, but the signage is easy to follow. We have only tried out the segments from Valatie to E. Greenbush and are amazed at the new fencing, the quality of the riding surface, the kiosks with maps and natural history, and the linkages that were made in and out of towns. This is what good planning can lead to, and this is how our taxes can be put to work to create recreational opportunities for families, walkers, skiers, and bikers of all abilities, and can further be used to leverage economic successes for the Hudson Valley.
The trail begins in the north near the Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak station across the river from the state capital in Albany. Along the way the trail goes through the Hudson Valley towns of Valatie and Kinderhook as well as orchards like Samoscott and historic sites. There is an abundance of places to stop for lunch or a snack and the parking area in Valatie features a full service bike shop called Velo Domestique https://www.velodomestique.com/
The website for the trail is here https://ahettrail.org/ and includes a good map of the whole trail. Individual sections can be accessed through the menu for towns, and these will show trailheads, but not parking.
Parking is available at a number of sites, but to find out where to park go to the Empire State Trail map https://empiretrail.ny.gov/map and zoom in on the area you are looking for. Click on any P symbol and a detail box will appear. This same process works for other amenities along the trail, and the map will be updated as more are added.
Empire State Trail
Things to note:
The trail is open year-round, dawn to dusk, for non-motorized recreation (ATVs, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, and other motorized vehicles are prohibited).
The trail will not be plowed – during winter months the trail is open for hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.
Dogs are allowed but must be kept on leash at all times, and owners must clean up after their pets.
Trail users are reminded to stay on the trail and not enter adjacent private property.
So grab your bike, walking shoes, kids and dogs and see new and fascinating parts of Rensselaer and Columbia Counties!
National Trails Day is June 5. Please join the THC at Grafton Lakes State Park for a morning of trail work! We will be clearing blowdown, side trimming and installing trail markers. If you feel more ambitious, the Park may still need help completing the turnpikes that day. See the Outings page for more information.
Outings: Refer to the THC website outings page for details about the outings and how to register. We are scheduling on a short-term basis rather than seasonally, so check the website periodically.
Wednesday, June 2: Midweek Paddle B
National Trails Day, Saturday, June 5: Grafton Lakes State Park, Trail Marking
Saturday June 5: Alcove Reservoir - Cycle B
Wednesday, June 9: Moreau Lake State Park - Palmerton Range B
Wednesday, June 9: Midweek Paddle B
Friday, June 11: Tyringham Cobble, MA (rescheduled from May) Easy C
Wednesday, June 16: Midweek Paddle B
Monday, June 21 Ashuwillticook Bike Trail, Moderate B
Wednesday, June 23: Midweek Paddle B
Friday, June 25: South Taconics Loop: Paradise Tr. to A.T. and Bear Mtn. to Undermountain Tr., CT (B+)
Monday June 28: Field Farm, Williamstown C
Tyringham Cobble, Rabbit Rock. Pic provided by Sharon Bonk
TCT trail work in mid-May. Pic by M Waldman
Fringed polygala. Pic by M Waldman
TCT Trail work in late May. Pic by D Pisaneschi
We saw this painted trillium while doing trail work on the TCT. Pic by Waldman
Love to see the smiling, mask-free faces! At the Sara Tenney trailhead kiosk on Rt. 2. Pic by K Ross
Trillium on the TCT. Pic by M Waldman