Outdoors time has a descriptive name for me, Decompressing. Getting out from beneath the pressures of the ever-escalating rat race has an enormous importance in my life. Disconnecting, unplugging, disassociating, DECOMPRESSING, is how I cope. Very recently it became obvious that is was time to pull the plug for a short while.
The Decompression regiment requirements were:
1) A short drive from home to maximize outside time.
2) Not too far from the road. This would be my first winter camping experience. Have to be able to bail out if required.
3) Leanto would be preferred.
Morgan Hill State Forest met all the criteria.
Bailing out of work a wee bit early on Friday afternoon got us to the Hemlock Glen Leanto right after sunset. Dark enough to need headlamps. Dark enough that Ted doubted I really knew where I was leading us. About 13 steps short of a mutinous uprising, lead by Ted, we reached the leanto.
For being close to home, and a short hike from the road, this is a wonderous place. Shackham Brook spills over a small series of falls just in front of the leanto, providing an incredibly calming background hiss. Not a painful, contrived noise, rather a gentle, subtle note of just enough intensity to constantly keep you reminded that it's there. Unless Brian is snoring.
For being January, the weather was anything but typical. During the day, Saturday, at some point or another we were all out of our jackets and in t-shirts just to keep cool enough. Crazy weather. Hopefully the Yin to our recent weather Yan will be somewhat moderated rather than being handed a whole heaping of Mother Nature's fury all at once. Regardless of the unseasonal warmth, the sun shone, and my immediate world was "right."
Through the day on Saturday a few day hikers dropped in, none staying very long. Perhaps we looked a bit more motley than is our reality. Guess they don't know that ugly dogs are no more prone to bite than pretty ones.
Josh and I followed the Finger Lakes Trail southward from the leanto for some distance, exploring and looking for a firetower that we somehow had both thought existed along the trail. Didn't find the fire tower. Did find the old stone foundation of an old homestead, though. Not that I need an excuse to have a good hike, but that old foundation was a neat find.
Saturday night, as the other guys were already sleeping, I sat and tended the fire for quite some time, occasionally tossing in a chunk or two of wood to keep the flames going. Not a high angry fire, just a bit of light and motion to stare at. Time has no reference when staring at the fire, minutes are hours, and hours are fleeting. It's powerfully hypnotic drug without the expense or flashbacks.
Sleep came easy on both nights. Not being a fully equipped winter camper, I made due with one lightweight sleeping bag inside another, and my favorite wool blanket over the whole mess. Not a rig I'd carry for endless miles on end jammed in my pack, but a perfectly suitable setup for a short trip such as that one.
Earlier this evening I grabbed my copy of "50 Hikes In Central New York" and started looking for some other hikes close to home that I just might have to explore very soon. This winter stuff is nice.
Ordin
The Decompression regiment requirements were:
1) A short drive from home to maximize outside time.
2) Not too far from the road. This would be my first winter camping experience. Have to be able to bail out if required.
3) Leanto would be preferred.
Morgan Hill State Forest met all the criteria.
Bailing out of work a wee bit early on Friday afternoon got us to the Hemlock Glen Leanto right after sunset. Dark enough to need headlamps. Dark enough that Ted doubted I really knew where I was leading us. About 13 steps short of a mutinous uprising, lead by Ted, we reached the leanto.
For being close to home, and a short hike from the road, this is a wonderous place. Shackham Brook spills over a small series of falls just in front of the leanto, providing an incredibly calming background hiss. Not a painful, contrived noise, rather a gentle, subtle note of just enough intensity to constantly keep you reminded that it's there. Unless Brian is snoring.
For being January, the weather was anything but typical. During the day, Saturday, at some point or another we were all out of our jackets and in t-shirts just to keep cool enough. Crazy weather. Hopefully the Yin to our recent weather Yan will be somewhat moderated rather than being handed a whole heaping of Mother Nature's fury all at once. Regardless of the unseasonal warmth, the sun shone, and my immediate world was "right."
Through the day on Saturday a few day hikers dropped in, none staying very long. Perhaps we looked a bit more motley than is our reality. Guess they don't know that ugly dogs are no more prone to bite than pretty ones.
Josh and I followed the Finger Lakes Trail southward from the leanto for some distance, exploring and looking for a firetower that we somehow had both thought existed along the trail. Didn't find the fire tower. Did find the old stone foundation of an old homestead, though. Not that I need an excuse to have a good hike, but that old foundation was a neat find.
Saturday night, as the other guys were already sleeping, I sat and tended the fire for quite some time, occasionally tossing in a chunk or two of wood to keep the flames going. Not a high angry fire, just a bit of light and motion to stare at. Time has no reference when staring at the fire, minutes are hours, and hours are fleeting. It's powerfully hypnotic drug without the expense or flashbacks.
Sleep came easy on both nights. Not being a fully equipped winter camper, I made due with one lightweight sleeping bag inside another, and my favorite wool blanket over the whole mess. Not a rig I'd carry for endless miles on end jammed in my pack, but a perfectly suitable setup for a short trip such as that one.
Earlier this evening I grabbed my copy of "50 Hikes In Central New York" and started looking for some other hikes close to home that I just might have to explore very soon. This winter stuff is nice.
Ordin
) made fresh up at the overlook, staring out over the valley.. or maybe grill some 'dogs out over a roaring good fire in front of the leanto... 
)...
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