Tuesday, August 21, 2012

2012 Adventure XIX

Date of Adventure: Tues. 21 Aug. 2012

Type of Adventure: Kayaking

Place of Adventure: Richville Dam

Length of Adventure, miles: ???

Length of Adventure, hours: 3

Weather: Sunny, blue sky with big fluffy clouds, temps in 80s, low humidity, light breeze.

Companions: Mom

Other Adventurers  Encountered: None

Notes of Interest: 1. We saw tons of Herons. Green ones, Blue ones, Great Blue ones. They were everywhere. Also saw kingfishers and a family of Osprey.

Monday, August 20, 2012

2012 Adventure XVIII

Date of Adventure: Sun. 20 Aug 2012

Type of Adventure: Hike

Place of Adventure: Shrewsbury

Length of Adventure, miles: 1.5

Length of Adventure, hours: 2.75 hours

Companion(s): Colyn

Weather: Sunny, warm temps in 70s, very dry.

Other Adventurers Encountered: A group of 3 hikers with another large dog

Notes of Interest: 1. This is the adventure when Colyn tore his ACL. He was hiking along just fine, then suddenly sat down and laid down. We were almost 1 mile out when it happened, and it took us over an hour of limping to get back to the trail head. I tried to carry him, but I could only go about 20 feet at a time. Mostly, I just used his harness to help support his weight as much as possible. He was an angel while I was manhandling and carrying him. at 24 hours into the injury, he is already fed up with the confinement and I haven't even brought home the crate yet. I foresee very few adventures in our near future.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

2012 Adventure XVII

Date of Adventure: Tues. 13 Aug.

Type of Adventure: Kayaking

Place of Adventure: Goshen Damn, Moosalamoo

Length of Adventure, miles: approx. 2

Length of Adventure, hours: 2

Weather: Slightly overcast, temps in 70s, not too humid, very light breeze.

Companions: Mom, Ash, Colyn

Other Adventurers Encountered: A large group of kids were on the their way out when we arrived, a couple people were fishing, and a pair of kayakers arrived as we were leaving.

Notes of Interest: 1. We saw no wildlife at all. It was rather disappointing. 2. Colyn was mostly well-behaved. He completely ignored the noisy, obnoxious children. He did seem reluctant to swim at first, but he joined us after awhile.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

2012 Adventure XVI

Date of Adventure: 31 July 2012

Type of Adventure: Hike

Place of Adventure: Moosalamoo

Length of Adventure, miles: 2.5?

Length of Adventure, hours: 1.5

Weather: Hot, sunny

Companions: Colyn

Other Adventurers Encountered: A couple people in the parking lot

Notes of Interest: 1. We hiked a longer loop and I found water sources for Colyn. 2. Several bridges were "closed" from Irene. The bridges were intact and appeared fine, but the signs said they were closed for safety. So, I clambered around them. I think it might have been safer for me to just use the bridges. 3. We stayed until dark and watched the stars come out. It was amazing. I intended to stay until pitch dark, but I forgot the bug spray.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

2012 Adventure XV

Date of Adventure: Sun. 29 July, 2012

Place of Adventure: Moosalamoo

Type of Adventure: Hike

Length of Adventure, miles: 2

Length of Adventure, hours: 1

Weather: Sunny, temps in 70s, rumbling thunder but no rain

Companions: Colyn

Other Adventurers Encountered: A couple with a dog in the parking lot, and a runner with a dog on the trail.

Notes of Interest: 1. This is still the most beautiful view in Vermont. 2. There are teeny, tiny wild blueberries on the hillside, and loaded blackberry bushes near the trailhead. They weren't quite ripe, but I ate some anyway. There are tons that will be coming ripe in a week or so.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

2012 Adventure XIV


Date of Adventure: Tues. 19 June 2012

Type of Adventure: walk/hike

Place of Adventure: Robert Frost Trail

Length of Adventure, miles: 1

Length of Adventure, hours: <.5

Companion(s): N.

Weather: Sunny, light breeze, temps in 70s

Notes of Interest: 1. On the way to the Robert Frost trail head, I discovered the outlet of Forest Rd 32. That's a good point of reference to have.

Monday, June 18, 2012

2012 Adventure XIII


Date of Adventure: Mon. 18 June 2012

Type of Adventure: hike/walk

Place of Adventure: Glen Lake

Length of Adventure, miles: 4

Length of Adventure, hours: 1.5

Companion(s): Colyn

Weather: Sunny, light breeze, temps in 70s

Other Adventurers Encountered: On our way out we saw a man with a pair of Goldens headed swimming, a couple guys with kayaks.

Notes of Interest: 1. I have no idea where I was going, or where I might have ended up. I just followed the road. 2. I saw a hawk, twice. I was surprised to see it in the middle of the woods. I saw it on the way out, and in almost the same place on the way back. Both times I think it was on the ground, and I saw it as it flew to a tree. 3. I also heard three woodpeckers. One was by itself, then there was a pair sounding off at each other. 4. I think Colyn is going to come up lame again. :( He was showing signs of gimpyness when he trotted on our way out.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

2012 Adventure XII


Date of Adventure: Tues., 12 June 2012

Type of Adventure: Kayaking

Place of Adventure: Sugar Hill Reservoir/Goshen Dam

Length of Adventure, miles: approx. 2

Length of Adventure, hours: 2

Weather: Rainy. It rained the whole time we were out, but it was mostly just sprinkling. Temps were in the 70s.

Other Companions: Mom and Colyn

Other Adventurers Encountered: A lone fisherman in a rowboat. We tried to give him plenty of space.

Notes of Interest: 1. We saw tons of wildlife. It started on the drive up when we encountered a Partridge on the side of the road. She didn't move away from the car, even when we stopped to look at her. She fanned her tail and ruffled her neck feathers. There was another adult and several young flitting around in the bushes at the side of the road. At the reservoir we saw two loons, separately. Each followed us for quite awhile and came within 30 or 40 feet. We were trying to give them plenty of room, but they kept coming up to us. It was amazing. We also saw a kingfisher, and two families of geese with a total of 6 goslings. On the way home we saw a snapping turtle, about 10" in diameter in the road. He was quite the fierce beast. 2. Colyn had a great time swimming. I strapped him into his life vest and sent him off. At first he didn't realize he could just swim to shore when he needed a break. We stayed pretty close to shore, but a few times I had to almost beach my kayak to make him get out of the water. After he understood the game, he did great. He swam at least 2/3 of the way around the lake, plus a lot of swimming around while we were just floating peacefully. The last 1/3 or so, he decided to walk along shore. In fact, I couldn't get him back in the water after that. He refused to admit he was tired, though, and when we got home he still had a bounce in his step. Tomorrow he'll be sorry.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

2012 Adventure XI

Date of Adventure: Sun. 20 May 2012

Type of Adventure: Kayaking

Place of Adventure: Leffert's Pond

Length of Adventure, miles: ?

Length of Adventure, hours: 1.5

Weather:  Sunny, blue sky, temps in upper 70s, light breeze

Companions: Mom

Other Adventurers Encountered: Swimmers and boaters

Notes of Interest: 1. The place was packed. We could barely find a parking space along the road. 2. I can almost lift the kayak onto the car by myself. Hopefully by the end of the summer I'll be able to. 3. We saw a pair of Loons, a pair of Blue Herons, a pair of Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers, a Spotted Sandpiper, and some ducks.

2012 Adventure X

Date of Adventure: Sun. 13 May 2012

Type of Adventure: Kayaking

Place of Adventure: Chittenden Dam

Length of Adventure, miles: ?

Length of Adventure, hours: approx. 1

Weather: Overcast with thunder and light showers

Companions: Mom, Dad, Ash

Other Adventurers Encountered: lots of swimmers and boaters

Notes of Interest: 1. This was my first trip out with the kayaks Mom and Dad just bought. It was great.

2012 Adventure IX

Date of Adventure: Sat. 12 May 2012

Type of Adventure: Hike

Place of Adventure: Florence, Dave Mills' farm

Length of Adventure, miles: Maybe 2

Length of Adventure, hours: 3

Weather: Sunny, blue sky, light breeze, temps in 70s

Companions: Dad and others from the Crown Point Road Association

Other Adventures Encountered: Just some cows

Notes of Interest: 1. This was a group hike with the Crown Point Road Association along part of the Crown Point Military Road. This was the section through Dave Mill's farm. We saw several cellar holes. 2. It was a very slow hike, more just a stroll. 3. We saw an amazing little quarry hidden back in his land.

2012 Adventure VIII

Date of Adventure: Thurs. 26 April 2012

Type of Adventure: Hike

Place of Adventure: Shrewsbury

Length of Adventure, miles: Approx 2

Length of Adventure, hours: 1.5

Weather: Rainy

Companions: Colyn (and a porcupine)

Other Adventurers Encountered: Just the Porcupine

Notes of Interest: 1. I tried to summit Burnt Hill again. The trail has been moved and now goes through a logging area. The blazes are mostly missing through the logging area, which was very frustrating. 2. Porcupines and Dogs do not make good hiking buddies. 3. Vet bills to remove Porcupine Quills from a Dog's face are expensive. 4. Colyn is a trooper and was still trying to cause trouble even with a face full of Quills.



Warning: Potentially Disturbing Pictures below.





 Well, that doesn't look so bad, really.






 What? These Quills? No, they're not bothering me at all.



Thursday, March 15, 2012

2012 Adventure VII

Date of Adventure: Thurs. 15 March 2012

Type of Adventure: Hike

Place of Adventure: Pine Hill Park

Length of Adventure, miles: 4

Length of Adventure, hours: 2

Weather : Overcast, temps about 50.

Companions: Colyn

Other Adventurers Encountered: A couple folks leaving as we arrived, a couple folks arriving as we left, and 1 jogger sighted on another trail.

Notes: 1. The trails were in good shape, hardly wet at all. 2. I like the new Shimmer trail, its fun. 3. I found a new favorite place. As you approach the Pond overlook from Stegasaurus, you come up behind a lot of rocks and ledge. There are great little holes and views down in there. Its all hidden and fun.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

2012 Adventure VI

Date of Adventure: Thurs. 8 March 2012

Type of Adventure: Winter hike

Place of Adventure: Shrewsbury

Length of Adventure, hours: 1.5

Length of Adventure, miles: approx. 2

Weather: Sunny, very light breeze, temps around 60.

Companions: Mom and Colyn

Other Adventurers Encountered: 1 snowshoer

Notes: 1. The snow was extremely soft, and about 1 foot deep in the open areas. We didn't absolutely need snowshoes on the trail, but they might have been helpful. 2. We heard what might have been a Pileated Woodpecker, but we were unable to confirm it. 3. I borrowed Dad's GPS. I have no idea how to use it, but hopefully I successfully tracked today's hike so I can see how closely it matches my map.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

2012 Adventure V

Date of Adventure: Thurs. 16 Feb. 2012

Type of Adventure: Snowshoe hike

Place of Adventure: Shrewsbury

Length of Adventure, miles: 2.75

Length of Adventure, hours: 2.5

Weather: Warm, temps in 30s, snow flurries.

Companions: Colyn

Other Adventurers Encountered: None, although we heard what were probably gunshots and saw recent tracks from someone else.

Notes: 1. I finally got to use the snowshoes. The snow has softened up enough that I needed them off trail. 2. I tried to bushwack to the Beaver Pond, but I didn't quite make it. I started to get blisters on my heels and toes, so when I crossed the trail on the way to the pond, I decided to just head back.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

2012 Adventure IV

Date of Adventure: Sun., 5 Feb. 2012

Type of Adventure: Hike

Place of Adventure: Pittsford

Length of Adventure, miles: 2.4

Length of Adventure, hours: 1

Weather: Very sunny, blue sky, temps in 20s, light wind. This trail was completely snow free, and was even slightly muddy.

Companions: Colyn and Mom

Other Adventurers Encountered: Two hikers coming back as we headed out.

Notes: 1. The weather was perfect. 2. Irene chewed away at a good bit more of the river banks. 3. There are now chickens at one of the trail heads. Colyn showed great interest, but managed to control himself.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

2012 Adventure III

Date of Adventure: Sat., 4 Feb. 2012

Type of Adventure: Hike

Place of Adventure: Shrewsbury

Length of Adventure, miles: 2

Length of Adventure, hours: 2

Weather: Sunny, temps in low 20s, slightly windy. There was a fresh layer of snow, only about 1". The crust was even thicker, about 1". The trail was slicker with the new snow, and off trail was tricky.

Companions: Colyn

Other Adventurers Encountered: None, but there were others out there. A group of 4 people logged into the little notebook at the trailhead, and I saw 2 other sets of fresh boot prints. At least 1 group had a dog.

Notes: 1. I intended to follow the stone wall straight up the hill again, to save time, but I wasn't paying attention and hiked past it. I picked it up further up the trail, and followed it to the top of the hill. It finally petered out, or perhaps was too snow covered to find. I managed to set myself a course using map and compass and came back out at the intersection of Andy's Alley and Lee's Large Loop. I felt very accomplished. 2. I had to literally stomp my way through the woods. The crust was so thick I had to punch through it, and if I didn't I slipped all over the place. 2. Colyn didn't seem to be enjoying himself at first, which is extremely unusual. He always loves hiking. When we finally got off the trail and into the woods, though, he seemed happier. 3. We only came across one set of tracks, I'm guessing moose just from the size. 4. I couldn't seem to capture any of the photos I wanted. These just don't do justice to the beauty of fresh snow on evergreens.











2012 Adventure II

Date of Adventure: Thurs., 2 Feb 2012

Type of Adventure: Hike

Place of Adventure: Shrewsbury

Length of Adventure, miles: 1

Length of Adventure, hours: 1.5

Weather: Overcast, temps in upper 20s, trail packed and a little icy. The snow is 8-12" deep, but there is a crusty layer on top.

Companions: Colyn

Other Adventurers Encountered: None

Notes: 1. So much for a quiet hike in the woods. Almost as soon as I got there, some equipment fired up and filled the forest with noise. I have no idea what they're doing, or exactly where, but I wish they weren't. 2. I, apparently foolishly, trimmed Colyn's toenails before the hike. They were way too long so I trimmed them as short as I could. This left him without the benefit of traction on the slick snow. It also allowed the nail quicks to get bruised and irritated by the crusty snow. He was bleeding from at least 1 toenail on each foot for most of the hike. I felt bad, and it looked like I was torturing him, but he never noticed until we got back in the car. 3. Colyn is getting old and out of shape. He kept stopping to wait for me to catch up. 4. I decided to follow a stone wall again. I ended up in a spot so steep, slippery, and tree covered that I had to crawl about 6 feet up a hill. 4. I really wanted to get a nice photo of the snow covered landscape, so I finally flopped down on my belly in the snow to a get a boot's eye view. Then I felt like a turtle because I could barely move with my pack weighing me down.






Sunday, January 8, 2012

2012 Adventure I

Date of Adventure: Sun. 8 Jan. 2012

Type of Adventure: Hike

Place of Adventure: Shrewsbury

Length of Adventure, miles: 2?

Length of Adventure, hours: 1.5

Weather: Overcast, flurries. Anywhere from a dusting to 3" of snow on the ground.

Companions: Colyn

Other Adventurers Encountered: None.

Notes: 1. Bushwacked along several stone walls. Found lots of animal tracks: rodent, bird, deer, and possibly bear.