NY Walkman: 2012

Monday, October 15, 2012

10/15/2012 - Laura's Tower, Stockbridge

Stockbridge Massachusetts is a great place to park and walk. This walk starts at the town hall (where you can park). The trail head is hidden at the rear of the parking lot. The trail is maintained by the nation's oldest village improvement society, The Laurel Hill Association is (founded in 1853). After a few hundred yards, you come to a grove with a rostrum. At the far end of the grove the path continues along the slope of Laural Hill and eventually comes to the trail head parking lot on Park Street. Space is limited here, and imo far better parking behind the town hall.

The trail is well marked and there is a magnificent suspension bridge over the Housatonic River. After about 1/2 mile the trail divides with the left fork going to the Ice Glen and the left fork climbing 600 feet to Laura's Tower (constructed in 1931). The right fork leads to the Ice Glen. Some earlier Ice Glen hikers included: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Herman Melville, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and William Cullen Bryant.

There is a bit of rock climbing involved to cross the Ice Glen. On the other side you can follow a dirt road to Ice Glen Road and loop back to Stockbridge.

After the walk stop by the Red Lion Inn or Alice's Restaurant for lunch.

Links of interest:

Saturday, September 29, 2012

09/30/2012 - Monthly Log

Throughout the summer I have been tarty updating my blog. I ruptured a tendon and I've been hobbling along instead of walking. Also adding a few pounds. I still manage to log a few miles: June 85; July 57; August 50 and in September 56 miles. Total mileage as of September, 2012 was 3,184.

In May we vacationed in Western Virgina and walked several Civil War Battlefields, including: Harper's Ferry, Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, New Market and Appomattox. In June we took a trin trip to North Creek, stayed overnight and walked around the town. In July we explored Schdack Island and Merck Farm, in Vermont. During August we walked to breakfast breakfast at the Saratoga Track.

In September we vacationed in the Berkshires and walked up and down on Mount Greylock, explored the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, and walked a few loops around Stockbridge (Naumkeag, Ice Glen).

Saturday, July 21, 2012

07/20/2012 - Antietam

There are several walks at the Antietam. Before you start walking I highly recommend that you check the visitor center for the guided ranger tours.

This battle was one of the first in history that was extensively photographed. I've included a few in the slide show (National Park Site that details Historic Photographs by Alexander Gardner).

The walk that I detailed includes the Mumma Farm, the Cornfield and Bloody Lane. The battle took place on a broad front. A major portion of the battle was covered by this walk. The other area (a short drive away) took place at the Burnside Bridge.

Links of interest:

Find more Walk in Keedysville, MD

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

06/20/2012 - Manassas

This is a relatively short walk that starts at the Manassas Henry Hill Visitor Center. Before you start walking I highly recommend that you check the visitor center for the guided ranger tours.

There were two distinct battles that occurred here that were separated by 14 months. The guided tour of the 1st Manassas helps puts the Civil War in context. Basically, 1st Manassas was the first large scale battle of the Civil War. Instead of a battle of trained armies, this was a battle of amateurs. As I listened to the guide I got the mental picture of high school football teams and marching bands shooting at one another. There were very few trained leaders, and even fewer trained and EFFECTIVE leaders. General Thomas Jackson, hereafter called Stonewall, was one notable exception.

Do not go on a guided tour of the 2nd Battle without listening to the 1st. The South seemed to learn quicker than the North. In large part this was the result of excellent leadership. Especially when contrasted with Union commanders like General Pope. However (in my opinion) at all levels, the southern units were more experienced. And they had the home court advantage. Simply put, because the South had fewer resources, southern Units fought more often. Following the disaster of the 1st Bull Run many union soldiers were mustered out of service. They were replaced with new (untrained) units. Also, union soldiers, recruited from the eastern cities were at a disadvantage compared to confederate soldiers and union soldiers recruited from the west. Basic marksmanship skills and other wilderness related skills had to be learned by eastern recruits. Green Union units from the west like the Wisconsin Iron Brigade entered combat with certain advantages.

Links of interest:

Sunday, June 10, 2012

05/15/2012 - Gettysburg Visitor Center, Cemetery Ridge and National Cemetery

This is a three and a half mile walk that starts at the Gettysburg Visitor Center. The route starts at a trail behind the visitor center. This short trail ends at a crosswalk across Taneytown Road. Head north on the sidewalk along Taneytown Road and loop through the National Cemetery. Then recross Taneytown Road and head past the old visitor center to Cemetery Ridge. Head south along Cemetery Ridge toward the Pennsylvania Memorial and loop back to the visitor center via General Meade's Headquarters.

Before you start walking check the visitor center for the guided ranger tours. We managed to combine this walk with two great guided tours:

THE THIRD DAY: "Pickett's Charge" (1 hour) Learn what happened during "Pickett's Charge" on July 3, 1863 and discover what its outcome meant for the Union and Confederacy.
NATIONAL CEMETERY (40 minutes) A 35-minute program that explores the meaning and cost of the Battle of Gettysburg, and of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

When we toured the National Cemetery we managed to hear a recital of the Gettysburg Address by a visiting school group. Wonderful experience!

A short warning about straying from the beaten path - I often walk in Oakwood Cemetery in Troy, NY. There are a few graves there from veterans of the NY 125th Regiment including Colonel Willard who was killed at Gettysburg. I tried to find Col. Willard's memorial by Plum Run (Creek) and I found myself covered with deer ticks.

Other links of interest:

Find more Walk in Gettysburg, PA

Thursday, May 31, 2012

05/31/2012 - Monthly Log

I have been tarty updating my blog. Recently I ruptured a tendon and I've been hobbling along instead of walking. Also adding a few pounds. I still manage to log a few miles: March 103; April 124; and in May only 75 miles. Total mileage as of May 31st, 2012 was 2,940.

In May we vacationed in Western Virgina and walked several Cival War Battlefields, including: Harper's Ferry, Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, New Market and Appomattox. All of these battlefields have walking paths with signage and monuments. Most offer ranger guided walking tours of relatively short distance. Walking a civil war battlefield, listening to a qualified guide is a vastly different experience than a drive by with a few quick stops. During the next few months I hope to outline a few of these walks on this blog.

We also explored the Hundred Acre Wood Trail System near the new Global Foundries Facility in Malta, NY. We're waiting to see how this system connects to the Zim Smith Trail. And we've been walking around Saratoga Springs and North Creek.

Monday, March 26, 2012

02/29/2012 - Cherry Valley

This winter, because of a lack of snow, I had to reach into my archive of unpublished walks. In December I wrote about Cooperstown and in January about Glimerglass State Park. In the same general area is Cherry Vallye.

Last July on the waay to Glimmerglass State Park we stopped at Chery Valley, visited the museum and took aa quick (less than a mile loop) around the town.

Find more Walk in Cherry Valley, NY

02/29/2012 - Monthly Log

In February I logged 111 miles. Since I started logging my walks 20 months ago (April 2010), I logged 2,6380 Miles. Work trumped walking, compensated by walking close to home. Very Little snow, weather unseasonably warm. Managed to walk outside quite a bit for the winter.

My walks during the month included:

Oakwood Cemetery Loop (5.6 - 6.8 miles), 3 times
Neighborhood walks (1.7 - 4.2 miles), 23 times
Altamont (6.4 miles), 1 time
Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve (6.0 miles), 1 times\
At Home Video (2 Miles), 4 times
Crossgaes (1.0 Mile), 1 time
Clifton Park Center (1.5 - 3.0 miles), 3 times

Saturday, February 4, 2012

01/31/2012 - Monthly Log

In January, I logged 105 miles. Since I started logging my walks 19 months ago (April 2010), I logged 2,520 Miles.

I got sick during the month and it was difficult getting to my hundred mile goal. Luckily the weather was very warm and very clear. I had plently of opportunity to log miles at the end of the month. During January it did snow but it didn't last. I managed snowshoe twice.

My walks during the month included:

Oakwood Cemetery Loop (5.6 - 6.8 miles), 3 times
Neighborhood walks (1.7 - 4.2 miles), 15 times
Zim Smith Trail (2.5 - 4.6 miles), 2 times
Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve (4.5 miles), 3 times
At Home Video (2 Miles), 17 times
Saratoga Springs (2.5 Miles)
Clifton Park Center (1.5 - 3.0 miles), 2 times

01/31/2012 - Hyde Hall, Glimmerglass

This December, because of a lack of snow, I had to reach into my archive of unpublished walks. Now it's January, still no snow!

Last July we walked around Glimmerglass State Park and toured Hyde Hall.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

12/31/2011 - Monthly Log

In December, I logged 104 miles. Since I started logging my walks 18 months ago (April 2010), I logged 2,417 Miles. Because of winter weather we got our "Walk-Away the Pounds Videos." We like the 2 mile walk that takes 1/2 hour. It's a great alternative when it gets nasty outside. Another alternative is mall walking (one lap at Cross Gates is a Mile). I also parked at Metroland Dinner, ate breakfast and walked to Cross Gates Mall to do my Christmas Shopping.
My walks during the month included:

Oakwood Cemetery Loop (5.6 - 6.8 miles), 2 times
Neighborhood walks (1.7 - 3.9 miles), 21 times
Voorhesville (6.7 - 7 miles), 2 times
Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve (4.5 miles)
At Home Video (2 Miles), 4 times
Mall Walks (1 - 3 Miles), 2 times
Albany Pine Bush Preserve (2.1 miles)

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