Not the hike I wanted with the construction zone on the mountain site with all trails and roads closed, however we improvised and had an interesting hike on trails, a little bushwhacking and some roads. Weather again was outstanding and the view from the rooftop bar eased some of the pain. Not sure what the deer was doing in the church yard, maybe penance?
Moe Pond is a 38-acre pond above Cooperstown. It is part of SUNY Oneonta’s Biological Field Station and is extensively analyzed for its chemistry, fish and plant life. Sixteen Tramps hiked 5 miles in the woods around the pond that included a Red Pine Plantation and a large beaver pond. There was also a short bushwhack when the trail was lost. Several stopped at the Scenic Campground Bar and Grill for refreshments after the hike.
7541 Rogers Environmental Center September 14, 2024
The Rogers Center was originally established in 1909 as the Sherburne State Farm with the purpose of raising and breeding pheasants. It was renamed the Rogers State Game Farm in the 1940s in honor of Harry and Gertrude Rogers, who first ran the facility and originally suggested the idea of a pheasant breeding program to the State. In the late 1960s, the DEC phased out its game farm operations and started the State’s first conservation education center, which offered educational programs to residents, school groups, and summer camps until 2010 when the Center was shut down due to DEC budget reductions. In 2011, the non-profit Friends of Rogers was formed to run the Visitor Center and currently offers educational programming to children and adults throughout the year. Thanks to Mike and Janice for leading the hike.
As expected, this destination hike to the 3,110 ft. summit in the Siamese Pond Wilderness had no views. More importantly, an open forest canopy, with relatively little blowdown provided for easy navigation while bushwhacking.
It was essentially an unremarkable hike on an otherwise gorgeous summer day – brisk in the morning, unseasonably warm in the afternoon, slight breeze, once green foliage now dull yellow or rich red, a tranquil river (East Branch, Sacandaga River). And virtually no bugs.
True to form, the advertised 15-mile round trip hike morphed into a 16+ mile hiking marathon with over 3,000 ft. elevation change, all in eleven hours. The highlight for Kevin was tramping out of the woods with a headlamp. For Jeremy, on the other hand, was his refreshing swim in the Siamese Pond. The cool, clear water just melted away his aches and soreness.
Even Darlene, who dislikes the cold, boldly tip-toed into the cool water up to her ankles. Rather than dribble on, I will let the photographs taken by Jeremy highlight the wonderful, rugged Adirondack landscape we experienced.
The enthusiastic leader of the Piseco kayak was met with the irresolute distinction of losing 50% of those tramps who not only signed up at the agreed upon meeting place but also drove the 50 miles to the launch site. Despite the mutiny, the adventurous remaining quartet paddled down and about the estuaries before embarking on the northwest wind-capped waves around an island. Thereafter they returned to the calm waters of the Fall Stream inlet.
