Allen 5/22/2011

[Hear the Footsteps]

What a difference a week has made. On 5/14 H96S99 describes a trip to Allen with ice and snow kicking in shortly after the Skylight Brook crossing.

One week later probably as a result of drenching warm rain there is no snow on Allen at all. There were handful of spots with packed soft ice on the climb above the waterfall but other than that nothing, nada.

The crossing on the Hudson was not too hard. I did it two ways. On the way in I crossed the river just after making the turn toward the damaged bridge (the parts are still there maybe it can be re-hung). People seem to be crossing there. Don't go there the water level gets deep in the middle not over the thighs but close. Choose to cross a little upstream where there is flat water. A good target is to stay upstream of a cluster of boulders on the east side of the river approximately across from where a spur on the trail (rivers west side) trys to get to the rivers edge if not for bushes being in the way. Said in a another way, the boulders are approximately at the downsteam end of the flat water. I entered just above the boulders on the way back. It was knee high water all the way across there.

The trail condition is what I've found to be typical going to Allen. In the rutted and chronically wet areas approaching the gravel road it's wet and all the ruts filled with water. In one place running water over the trail.

The gravel road to the Opalescent crossing was pretty good. In two places where water overflowed swamp two culverts are in bad shape (as culverts) but easy to walk through.

Crossing the Opalescent was easy. Knee high no deeper. Noticably colder than the Hudson but not ice cold.

The section to the Marcy-Allen junction was good with some wet spots in the trail.

From the Marcy-Allen junction to the waterfall on Allen Brook the trail was intermittently wet, very very wet in the usual places. As H96S99 says there is occasional blowdown. Nothing that slows things up much.

The crossing at Skylight Brook would have been sketchy due to water levels if not for a fallen tree, a big one from the east side that now makes a bridge all the way across.

There was alot of water on Allen Brook during the flood three weeks ago. Below the waterfall alot of debris and unfortunately the picturesque water fall is now covered up by two or three trees that came from upstream. The cascades leading into the falls are cleaned out and visible.

Not surprising to find that there was more water that usual going up the Allen Brook path. Slippery too. I was a bit slower being careful not to fall going both up and down. The water eventually subsided way up the hill above where the path veers away from the top of the slide. The carins here are plenty and most in good condition when I arrived. I also rebuilt several of them.

The views were good but a bit hazy. Better than the forecast. There was even a little sunshine but mostly there was high clouds. The wildflowers are out too. Bluets are going good as are the violets (normal and white) and (i think) goldthread. I also saw painted trillium, indian poke, canada mayflower seem to be starting up but not blooming yet. At the top I was greeted by a pair of little birds that I find are named dark-eyed junco.

There were 4 to Allen Saturday and me and one other today.

Good day. 5 more to go for spring 46r round.

Don