A few "Pre-Blog" Trips...

Plans to bike the trails of Blue Mtn were dashed by a stomach virus that hit hard last night. Would have been a perfect day to ride the hard frozen trails. Started to feel better by 11am, so headed out for a 50 mile ride to Nyack and back.

I thought I'd round up a few photos and commentary from some outings earlier this winter.....

Ninham & Fahnestock Mtn Bike Ride: 12/6/08

(Original Post by Hank)

Croton Falls, Ninham Mtn, Richardsville Rd, Dicktown Rd, Stillwater Trail, Niese's, Sunken Mine Rd, Chimney Rock Trail, Indian Brook Rd, Cold Spring.

We planned a one-way largely off-road or hard-pack route from the Croton Falls Station on the Harlem Line to Cold Spring on the Hudson Line. After riding pleasant hard pack roads along reservoirs, Carl and I rode some of the single tracks on the east side of Gipsy Trail Road at Ninham State Forest. The we cycled the steep road to the top of Ninham Mtn then walked the stairs to the top of the tower. The panorama stretches from the Hudson Highlands to the east, the Catskills to the northwest, the Taconics/Berkshires, to the northeast, and south to Manhattan.

Unfortunately, the panorama shots were a bust. We took a well designed mtn bike downhill trail from the top to an abandoned rocky road which dropped us onto Rt 301 south of Peekskill Hollow Rd then up Richardsville Rd and Dicktown Rd to cross the Taconic and then the Stillwater Trail south:

After going to Sunken Mine Rd via paved roads we took the Stillwater Trail and ended in Cold Spring via Indian Brook Rd/ 9D. 39 miles & 4000'. Not too cold and not windy. This is a good route but should have taken the earlier train so we could take Carl's trail to the summit of Chimney Rock, a left off the trail, with its beautiful view.

Depression Pond, Dutchess Cty, NY: (1/24/09)

In one of the more "out there" treks one can do from NYC, John, Hank, and Scott headed out on Metro-North to ride hard-pack back roads in eastern Dutchess County, NY and adjacent Litchfield County, CT. Their route from DogTail Corners on old woods roads tooks them to remote Depression Pond and an old log cabin. Here are some pictures:

Meanwhile, I had missed the train for this trek, so instead did 4 laps in Central Park. Talk about contrasting experiences!