April Newsletter 2023
Taconic Crest, Petersburg Pass, Mt Raimer, and Berlin Mtn, with Greylock Range beyond the pass, from White Rocks overlook on TCT. Pic by M Waldman
Traveling around the Taconic Ridge with kids in tow?
If your kids love hiking but can’t go that far there are some nice alternative activities close by around and about the Taconic mountains area.
On the western side of the Taconics, Grafton State Park, located off Rt. 2 in Grafton west of 22, has a beautiful modern kid-centric Visitor Center with exhibits and a delightful playground. The swimming beach is large, and family friendly and shorter loop trails lead off along the west side of Long Pond. Grafton Lakes State Park
Margaret Lindley Park in Williamstown at the Junction of Rts. 2 and 7 has a sweet swimming pond and beach that are perfect for younger kids. A short trail leads through towering hemlocks. https://destinationwilliamstown.org/venue/margaret-lindley-park
Cherry Plain State Park in Petersburg, NY off Rt. 22 has a big playground next to a long sloping beach with excellent swimming. Cherry Plain State Park
On the east side of the Taconics is the Greylock State Reservation with its informative Visitor Center located on Rockwell Rd. in Lanesborough, MA. Stop there on your way up to the summit where extraordinary views extend for miles. Find kid-friendly trails at the summit or on the east side in Adams in the Greylock Glen. www.mass.gov/locations/mount-greylock-state-reservation
Have fun!
Trail Work
The snowpack is lingering along the Taconic Crest, but our trail workers are checking out their hand saws, loppers, work gloves, etc. getting ready to clear the trail of the blowdown once the snow recedes. All the heavy wet snowstorms, ice storms and high winds this winter resulted in a copious amount of blowdown on the TCT and other trails in the area. It will take a while for all of it to be cleared away.
If you would like to volunteer to help do trail work, please contact us. You can obtain our email address on the THC website Trail Work page
Perhaps you are interested in doing trail work but don’t know what to expect? Trail work is like working in your own yard, but it has the added benefits of hiking, working in the woods, and enjoying the company of others! Work may include removing blowdown (branches of various sizes or smaller trees that have fallen across the trail, side trimming with loppers to remove branches and other vegetation growing into the trail), and then later in the season using grass whips to cut down heavy weed growth. Sometimes we use hoes to clean out water bars. Volunteers bring their own loppers, hand saws or other hand tools as well as work gloves and other protective equipment as needed.
Spring Gathering
Save the date! Our Spring Gathering will be at Cherry Plain State Park on Saturday, June 10. We have the Water’s Edge Pavilion reserved for the day. There are great hiking and paddling opportunities as well as time to socialize! More details to follow.
Outings: Refer to the THC website outings page for details about the outings and how to register. We schedule on a monthly and short-term basis, so check the website periodically.
Tuesday, April 4: Albany Pine Bush – Madison Ave Pinelands to DiCaprio Park RT B-
Monday April 17-- Trail Work on the Taconic Crest Trail, PSF
Tuesday, April 18: Brothers, Charcoal, & Stevens Glen trails C+
Thursday, April 20 Albany Hudson Rail Trail - Bike C/B
Tuesday April 25: Overlook Mountain B
Friday, May 12—Trail Work on the Taconic Crest Trail, PSF
Thursday May 25-Stony Ledge and March Cataract Falls C/C+
Saturday, June 10: Spring Gathering - Cherry Plain State Park
“In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous.” – Aristotle
Be on the lookout for Spring Beauties popping up soon!
Snowshoeing to the Snow Hole, pic by M Waldman
View from Dickson Fire Tower, GLSP. It was too windy to go to the top!
Snow Hole, pic by J Berninger
View towards Catskills from White Rock viewpoint.
View across Long Pond, GLSP, pic by M Waldman