April 27, 2014

Reading Time: < 1 minutes FLT Map: Layen Rd (M17) west to Hines Rd (M16)   Authors Note: I am re-posting some previous hikes.  I may go back and write up a longer narrative in the future.   Another hike on my E2E. This one started out cloudy, chilly and drizzly, not great hiking weather. The sun did finally break […]

May 11, 2014

Reading Time: < 1 minutes FLT Map: Tower Rd (M16) west to Todd Rd (M16)   Authors Note: I am re-posting some previous hikes.  I may go back and write up a longer narrative in the future.   A short hike, only 11 miles, but it was a gorgeous day for a hike. Broke out my hiking/camping hammock and relaxed […]

May 26, 2014

Reading Time: < 1 minutes FLT Map: Beech Hill Rd (M31) east to Mill Brook Ridge Trail (M31)

Memorial Day was a great day for a hike. Getting closer to the eastern end of the FLT. This hike was between Beech Hill Rd and Alder Lake.

Balsam Lake Mountain Overnight Hike

Reading Time: 13 minutes My second attempt at an overnight hike on the FLT. My first attempt had not gone as I had planned and I wanted to redeem the overnight hike. This hike would take me up Balsam Lake Mountain and over the highest point on the FLT, 3660 feet. My camp destination would be Beaver Meadow Lean-to a little north of Alder Lake. The weather was perfect, highs in the low 70s and an overnight low in the low 40s. I also got a bonus side trip to Balsam Lake Mountain fire tower complete with incredible views.

August 16, 2014

Reading Time: 9 minutes My previous hike in July had left me with one more hike before I would reach the end of the FLT. I decided to leave that hike for the fall and hopefully get some great pictures with the leaves changing color, unfortunately that hike was still a little too early and the leaves had not changed much. Since I was holding that hike for later I needed another hike. The route on M28 had recently undergone a major change so I decided this was a good time to go back and work on that reroute. The entire reroute would take two hikes, but I could get part of it done this time.

This hike would take me from the Apex Boat Launch on NY 268 near the Cannonsville Reservoir, up to the old O&W Railroad bed and down along old NY 10. I would criss-cross the new NY 10 at several points before joining up with my previous track that went up Beers Brook Rd.

September 14, 2014 – Eastern Terminus

Reading Time: 6 minutes Many of my hikes are solo hikes, but on occasion my friend Tim has joined me. Since this was the hike to the Eastern Terminus of the FLT he decided to come along. In comparison to many of my hikes this one might not seem very “interesting” at first look. The hike was nearly all road walk, 19 miles of road and 2.6 miles of trail. It was also a very flat hike since it was mostly road; the total ascent was only 652 feet over nearly 22 miles, but even long flat road walks can offer some good photo opportunities.

October 6, 2014

Reading Time: 9 minutes FLT Map: Tower Rd (M16) east to Hines Rd (M16)

I decided to take a day off work and go hiking and hopefully get some of the fall colors. I had looked at the long-range forecast the previous week and Monday looked to be a decent fall day, crisp in the morning and warm by mid-day. As the weekend came the forecast became more unsettled and uncertain.

Monday morning dawned cold, but bright and sunny. After eating breakfast, loading my pack and supplies into the car I set out on the one hour drive to the trailhead. The sun chased me most of the drive, but as I neared the trailhead a wall of dark clouds began to build.