April 13, 2026.
John Boyd Thacher State Park and its Helderberg Escarpment. 15 miles southwest of Albany. There’s fossils in them thar hills. Tons of ‘em. Famous geological area. Also a former trade route of the Mohawk Iroquois. The best trail is the Indian Ladder Trail which is still closed for the winter. I got a decent view down into it though from the Escarpment Trail, which is the second-best trail IMO. The first video with the waterfall looks down at the Indian Ladder Trail.
Bear Swamp Preserve in Westerlo. Lots of laurel trees. The swamp decided to reject the hiking trail as much of the path is now underwater. Saw a nest with one tall and proud occupant (heron?).
