Hiking the Indian Ladder Trail @ Thacher State Park in Voohreesville, NY

The Helderberg Escarpment

is a natural feature of the 

Capital Region.

Eric and I grew up driving past the massive stone formations and visited Thacher Park, located at the top of the mountain.  We decided to take friends, Dave and Kathy, to walk the Indian Ladder Trail.  

While researching the origins of the State Park I often visited as a child and later, as an adult, I realized that New York State owes an eternal debt of gratitude to John Boyd Thacher and his wife, Emma.  Their interest in Land Preservation saved the Escarpment from the ravages of mining.  Donating the land to New York State ensured visitors can access this fossil rich area and enjoy its beauty.

Eric, Dave, Kathy, & I

at the Historical Marker

for the Indian Ladder Trail.

Exposed rock formations

tower above us.

The rock layers were formed over hundreds of millions of years.  Once the floor of an ancient sea, this area is rich in fossils from three different Geologic Periods.  

Rain from the previous week

feeds one of the two

waterfalls along the trail.

A shot of the waterfall

& the narrow trail

behind it.

Broken rocks at the foot

of the waterfall remind

visitors of ongoing

erosion.

The Minelot Waterfall is the largest waterfall on the trail.

I stoop beneath the rock ledge behind the waterfall to take this photo.

We walk past this rock formation

just before climbing the stairs

at the far end of this loop trail.

Introducing the Indian Ladder Trail to Dave and Kathy was wonderful!  I learned about the foresight of John Boyd and Emma Thatcher to preserve a landscape that I've taken for granted my entire life.

Trolls! @ The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, New York

 

The Wild Center is the located

at the Natural History Museum 

of the Adirondacks.

Tupper Lake's Wild Center is hosting six of Danish Sculptor Thomas Dambo's Trolls.  Each is made from recycled wood.  Dambo creates stories for each of his Trolls.  Each one is sweet and inspiring.  

Eric and I joined friends John and Carol walk the trails in search of huge Trolls.

Ronja Redeye greets visitors.

She speaks from her heart.

The four of us walk through the woods in search of more Trolls.

I pose with Rosa Sunfinger.

Her magical fingertips create

flowers all around her.

A shot of Eric standing

 beneath an arch.

The trail brings us to Stickwork

Patrick Doherty is the artistic

force behind this installation

inspired by the Adirondack

Mountains.

Sofus Lotus sits quietly to listen

to the world around him.

He believes that humans can

slow down & find natural

wonders around them.

John & Carol spend time 

with Basse Buller.

He uses stones, leaves & sticks 

to create symbols inspired

by nature.

Patrick Sapling has been permanently installed here at the Wild Center.  

Patrick reminds us that

EVERY tree was once

a Sapling.

Brightly colored Bird Houses

decorate the Music Trail.

I stand near Ibbi Pip as she

hangs Tree Houses along

the trail.

John, Carol, Eric, and I enjoyed our afternoon hike at The Wild Center.  We saw just six of Thomas Dambo's 130 plus Trolls.  The artist wants to install a Troll in each US State.  Look for them as you travel.  The map will guide you.

It is my hope that more States will find sites for these 

Whimsical Environmental Ambassadors.