Bicycling Sonoma

Arrived at the San Francisco hotel and Josh noticed a tall bald man with a porn mustache. I said "That guy looks like Tony Levin, hey wait, that is Tony Levin, hey wait that's King Crimson!" Josh got out of the car and talked at Tony about our 9th grade Discipline obsession while Jakko Jakszyk and Bill Reiflin squirmed waiting for someone to hurry them off in their black SUV. We turned to let them escape just as Robert Fripp steps out the door clutching a man purse. I stared, he noticed me staring and quickly darted into the waiting escape vehicle before I could demand his signature on my boobs... and so the trip started. We passed the rest of the time in San Francisco meeting up with a friend at 21st Amendment Brewing on Saturday and on Sunday a long walk to but brief immersion in the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, at which we witnessed performances by Jimmie Dale Gilmour solo on an Airstream fashioned into a stage and Robbie Fulks with a super group of Robbie Gjersoe, Missy Raines (!), and Jenny Scheinman (finally YAY!) while children loudly discussed slaying dragons behind us. Then up 101 to Healdsburg for a week of cycling the Dry Creek, Alexander Valley, Russian River and Sonoma Coast. Beer, wine, food and general enjoyment of life have been documented for your eyeballs here.
[Photos]

West Kill Mountain

Opted to do a loop starting at the trailhead to Devil's Path up and over West Kill returning to Spruceton Rd. I'd leave a bike at the Spruceton Rd. trailhead next time as feets were tired by the end of the 3-mile (pleasant) walk-jog back to the car. A dip in the falls before heading home cured all that.
[West Kill Mountain Loop]

Hanging out

Common garter snake halfway up the ledge.

Mt. Greylock

Spring hike up and over Greylock west to east. Best time of year to go even if the weather hides the view: carpet of trout lilies, hepatica, Dutchman's breeches, trillium.
[Fog]

Long Path - Mount Pisgah State Forest

Needed to stick close to home, so out and back to Richmond Mt. from County Rt. 10 Durham. Decent views of Windham High Peak and Ski Area from side trail. Short bushwhack up Richmond from off the Path.
[Long Path - Mount Pisgah State Forest]

Pharaoh Lake Wilderness

Went up to relatively nearby Pharaoh Lake Wilderness for an overnight. Unfounded fears of overcrowded campsites gave way to surprise at how remote the area felt so close to civilization.
[Photos]
[Pharaoh Mountain]
[Pharaoh Lake Wilderness]

Turns out there are cows in Vermont

Spent 4 days cycling inn to inn in the Champlain Valley and Green Mountains of Vermont. Recommend highly all the B&Bs / Inns and the people hauling our stuff so we didn't have to.
[Cows n' bikes n' stuff]
[Country Inns Along the Trail
[Shoreham Inn (Shoreham, VT)]
[Cornwall Orchards (Cornwall, VT)]
[Swift House Inn (Middlebury, VT)]
[Inn on Park Street (Brandon, VT)]

They're alive!
It's been a brutal spring as far as cold-blooded animals are concerned, but the next generation of Grumpy Swarms I & II appear to be prospering. Here they are seeing the world for the first time.

Huckleberry Mountain Bushwhack
Thanksgiving day bushwhack of Huckleberry Mt. just north of Crane Mt. Had the operator of the ADK guide not been intimidated by posted signs on the road in, the hike would have been much shorter. As it was, Mr. Melon went straight instead of left and wound up realizing the mistake somewhere near Armstrong Rd. Not deterred by ignorance or a 20 year old map/guide, an overgrown logging road offered a left that went up a western shoulder of Crane Mt. where the Huckleberry ledges were bright across the Paintbed Brook valley. Two beaver ponds negotiated, the Snowshoe Pond camp avoided and the Paint Mine trail found, climbing started up the ledges. I think this bushwhack would be easier in winter, but nonetheless worthy of the 1992 description in the ADK guide.
[Huckleberry Mt. near Johnsburg, NY]

Blackhead Mt. - Acra Pt. - Burnt Knob
Should have brought those pointy things you put on the bottom of your shoes.
[Northeast Catskills]

Katahdin
Hike up a crowded Katahdin, loons at Kidney Pond, next day up Double Top.
[Baxter State Park]

Ciclismo

Spent a week trying to keep up with old friends and new friends including guide Bill on a fancy rented Wilier bicycle around Borso del Grappa, Bassano del Grappa and Asolo in the provinces of Vicenza and Tristano, Veneto. Awkward considering the amount of food, beer, prosecco, espresso, tiramisu and pastry consumed. Thanks to Bill at Your Cycling Italia for his expert guidance on bike, roads, food, etc. and thanks to JG for putting it together.
[Ciclismo Photos]
[Your Cycling Italia]
[Nick e gli Squali]

Avalanche Lake
Picked the coldest night of the year (which is not saying much) to mess around Avalanche Lake between Marcy and Algonquin.
[Avalanche Lake photos]

Tongue Mt. Range
Thanksgiving walk in the woods: Clay Meadow - Five Mile Point via Fifth Peak.
Clay Meadow 400ft el.
2.0 miles to junction
.4m to Fifth Peak 1,813 ft
.4m back to junction
1.7m to Five Mile Point 400 ft. el.
3.7m to Clay Meadow
[Clay Meadow - Five Mile Point via Fifth Peak]

Hurricane Irene
Took some pictures while out in the storm.
[Hurrican Irene Pictures]