[Journal entry for July 29, 2018; Rattlesnake Hill, Black Rock Forest, Cornwall New York]. I arrived in the late afternoon of a mostly sunny day and parked at the hiker’s lot off of Reservoir Road. I walked this woods road to the Science Center. The “archeology table” that I had passed earlier in the summer was still in place and was now covered with pieces of old glass bottles, shards of pottery and strips of old metal. I continued on to Upper Reservoir and spent a few minutes admiring the lake and the hills that surround it, as well as the many wildflowers growing on the dam. Queen Anne’s Lace was particularly abundant. I then took Bog Meadow Road (a woods road) into the Forest. I made a short detour to view Aleck Meadow Reservoir. Big cumulous clouds were reflected in its still waters. I then continued onwards, connecting with Carpenter’s Road (another woods road) and taking it to the Scenic Trail (blazed in white).

The Scenic Trail ascends steeply up the flank of Rattlesnake Hill, beneath deciduous woods with Blueberries beneath. The summit has two overlooks, both looking southward towards Bog Meadow Pond (actually another impoundment). Tan gneiss ledges are surrounded by Blueberry Bushes and decorated with occasional Pitch Pines and Scrub Oaks. I stopped at the second overlook, for it has the better view of the pond, and spent a few minutes sitting on a ledge gazing out across the land and water.

I then continued along the trail, which descends the south flank of the hill before crossing relatively level land with a few small streams. Much of the ground is boggy; many mushrooms were fruiting. The trail eventually rejoins Bog Meadow Road, which heads south towards Academy land. I went almost as far as the gate, and then bushwhacked down to the shore of Bog Meadow Pond. Several large trees have fallen since my last visit on March 31 - victims of one of the Nor’easters, I suppose. I had to detour in a large arc around them to reach the shore. The lake was very still and the surrounding woods, including the little hump of Rattlesnake Hill, were reflected in its waters. Some animal – a beaver, perhaps, was swimming near the little grassy island, leaving a little wake that disturbed the reflections.

I backtracked back up Bog Meadow Road, taking it all the way to Aleck Meadow Reservoir. The sun was now lower on the horizon and the rocks ledges and vegetation around the lake were exceptionally beautifully lit by it. Unfortunately, a dog accompanying another hiker decided I was trouble and snarled at me repeatedly (to the consternation of its owners), disrupting the quiet of the evening and causing me to hustle on. I stopped at the dam for another view of the water, and then took the Honey Hill trail (blazed in white) up to the overlook on Honey Hill. I spent a few minutes viewing Black Rock Mountain. I then continued on, down the other side of the hill and across a little covered footbridge over the Upper Reservoir outflow, back to the Science Center.

I tried walking the new pedestrian path that parallels Reservoir Road, only to find that it is not yet complete. I had been wondering how the path was being built on such a steep hillside. I discovered that a six-foot high retaining wall was being constructed out of boulders on the downhill side and back-filled for the pathway. Returning to Reservoir Road, I once again encountered the snarling dog, which snarled at me some more. I bought a pizza and soda at Leo’s, in a shopping mall off of Quaker Avenue in Cornwall, before heading home..

About 3:15 of hiking.