Townsend Viewpoints

Townsend Viewpoints, Sterling Forest (2/16/2008)

This is the Hike of the Week for 1/1/2009 as described on the NY-NJ Trail Conference website. We hiked the Townsend trail with the Long Meadow Extension trail back on 2/16/2008. At that time the 2008 edition of the Sterling Forest map wasn't yet available, nor was this published hike, so we weren't aware of the two scenic viewpoints on the southern tip of the Townsend trail. On that day we took the orange triangle shortcut connector trail (which, for some reason, still isn't on the map) to the service road leading to the radio antenna on the hill (we also visited that hill). With the publication of this Chazin hike, and the new NYNJTC Sterling Forest map, we saw a reason to re-do this hike, and to visit those two viewpoints.

Comparing the two photo sets you can see how different the forest looks when bathed in fresh snow and when it's blooming with the green of spring. And when you re-hike it in the summer you realize one of the many the benefits of winter hiking ... there are no bugs! This was the first hike where the bug spray came out. And I was still eaten!

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