Pawling Nature Reserve, NY

ABOUT THE PARK:
Pets are not allowed in the nature reserve.

Pawling Nature Reserve
New York's Pawling Nature Reserve - The Nature Conservancy

Even though there are signs that say no hunting, there is hunting in this reserve.  These are the 2017 hunting dates.

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.59486, -73.58636

Paved pull out parking on both sides of Route 22.

TRAIL MAP:
Pawling Nature Reserve Map

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HIKE DISTANCE:  11.1 miles

THE HIKE:
An update on Rocky first.  In agreement with my veterinarian we put him down after his 10-day bite hold was up.  Even with sedatives and muzzled he tried to attack when the veterinarian went to inject the sedative that completely tranquilizes.  That affirmed in my mind that I was doing the right thing after having a whole week to second guess my decision.  I am glad he got to experience hiking and live the good life for a short time.  It's more than he would have gotten otherwise.

Walking back out southbound on Route 22/55 just a very short distance ...

... to a left on the Appalachian Trail.

This section of Appalachian Trail will enter the Pawling Nature Reserve in 1 mile and since pets are not allowed there, knocking off this section while I am without a dog once more.

Some water for thru-hikers (all southbound this time of year) before crossing Hurds Corner Road and ...

... a cattle stile.

The Appalachian Trail through cow pastures.

Another stile.

Mourning doves in the morning.

Looking back over the pastures.

Just around this bend ...

... a Great Blue Heron landed on the AT ...

... and proceeded to hike ahead of me for a bit.  This was a first!

Then he flew off to graze in a meadow.  Must have been some good breakfast there.  I have never seen a Great Blue Heron forage in a meadow before.

Leaving the meadow and entering the woods after 1 mile is where the Pawling Nature Reserve property starts.

I bypassed all of the nature reserve trails since I wanted to be sure not to miss any parts of the AT so it was straight out to the other side of the nature reserve first.

There are several sections of puncheon.

One one particularly long section I ran into a boy scout troop coming towards me so we both had to tight rope walk to get by one another.

There was nothing indicating a boundary line at this end and I could not find the yellow trail that is right at the line (I saw a yellow blaze through the trees but could not find the trail in either direction) so I overshot a bit and headed back.

It was just past this tree with a big bite out of it that I saw ...

... this sign which leads me to believe that was the property line.   That will be my marker for when I someday fill in the section between there and Hoyt Road.

Heading back, when the AT turns right at a T-intersection, I turned left on red.

How sad, so young.

As the red trail descends into the gorge, hemlocks become more prevalent.

There is a waterfall in the gorge but after crossing all dry creek beds, I was afraid there might not be a waterfall even though we had a wet summer.

Left on yellow and across the bridge ...

... with just a trickle of water flowing beneath.

Yellow continues to a kiosk ...

... for the reserve entrance on Quaker Lake Road.  Those cars must be from that boy scout troop I ran into.

Retracing on yellow.

The yellow trail has cute informative signs throughout.

Just before recrossing the bridge I thought I heard water flowing and a short distance to the right, indeed, there was the waterfall.  I had to zoom in to see it but it was there!

The waterfall when there is not much water.

At the intersection with red where I had come in, I stayed left on yellow.

These were fun - it gave a chance to guess the name of the tree before ...

... flipping the card up so see if you guessed right.  I think this was the only one I got right.  I don't know my trees.

This threw me for a second.  Double checked the map and no, red should not be here.  Obviously somebody ripped this off on the red trail and put it here where it does not below.  Knowing I would be on a red trail again, I took the marker and stuck it in my pocket to relocate it to its proper place.

Continuing on yellow to ...

... the Appalachian Trail.

I turned right on the AT to repeat a section I had already done so I could get to the trails on the other side of the reserve.

Left on green.

Right on orange ...

... descending into a pretty gorge.

Then a sharp right on orange to climb back up out of the gorge.

Some views at the top.

Right on green ...

... to right on red.

This is would be the right place for this wayward marker.

Found a spot to securely wedge it in and it's now in its rightful place.

Red crosses over the AT where I turned right on the AT to finish the hike.

Crossing back over the meadows.

These nice ladies that I ran into took a picture of ...

... AT thru-hikers "Towhee" and "Jay Bird" and myself.  They are doing a flip flop thru-hike which means they started in Georgia in February and hiked to Pine Grove, PA.  Then they traveled up to Maine and began hiking south to finish up back in Pine Grove, PA.  We talked over of the last two miles of my hike.  Because I had all kinds of time and was in no hurry to get home, I was able to extend an offer of some trail magic.  For those who do not know what trail magic is : "Trail Magic, defined as an unexpected act of kindness, is a quintessential part of the Appalachian Trail experience for many long-distance hikers."  I relaxed in my car in the shade where there was a nice breeze while they showered at the garden center where the AT crosses over Route 22/55.  I then drove them up the road to a deli where they were able to have a real meal then drove them back to the AT to continue on their hike.  I had the best time visiting with them and have now made some new hiking friends from Nevada.  If it works out, we might meet up again as they are heading through New Jersey.