Outblog No. 89

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Stuck at Dutton Ridge. I went up to Dutton Ridge with my pickup truck to explore this chunck of state land I discovered yesterday at my DEC desk job. This was a truly beautiful place, basically the ridge overlooking Renslearville State Forest, outside of Hauverville and Livingstonville in the Town of Broome, NY.

This area is truly beautiful, accessable by taking Shultes Road from Hauverville, up a really big hill and out about 4 miles past farms and turning left when you come to a 4-way intersection. From there you proceed south on another dirt road to the Dutton Ridge State Forest sign.

I took the left and proceeded back on the dirt road about 4 miles, stopping to explore possible areas for camping on future trips. It was amazing, particularly the views of the Catskills on this clear evening. I got back to where the trail got a lot softer and it looked like the state forest was ending, so I hopped out of the cab of my pickup and looked around for a good place to turn around. My options where back up 1/4 mile, turn in one spot that looked like trouble (too soft), and one that looked a little better. I carefully walked around a probed to the ground as I wasn't pleased with it, but I figured with the 4x4 I wouldn't get stuck.

That of course ignores the lession I learned quickly with this truck—it lacks a locking differential, so when you start to turn you lose a lot of power quickly. Not to mention, my truck ways a bit more then me. And I got stuck. I spent several hours that evening, trying to dig the truck out of the mud with no luck, only getting me stuck deeper. I was fairly careful as I didn't want to wear out my expensive BFG A/Ts that were still almost brand new.

Alone, deep in the woods I decided I'd better plan on camping out here. I figured I'd think of a plan in the morning. It was nice and warm under the truck cap, with sterno heat and lots of sleeping bags. I slept with just boxers and a t-shirt on, as all the clothes I had on me was wet from trying to get the truck out of the mud.

Morning came, and it sure was nice up there. I figured out a plan during the evening. I aired down the BFG tires, and loaded the bed of my truck up with about 600 lbs of rock from local stone walls (or whatever it takes to load the bed up of a Ranger). I got out.

Yehaw! Was my only word.

Unloaded the rocks that were on my tailgate, and drove the rest of the preserve, dumping the rest of the rocks at the edge of the preserve. Figure I'll grab them the next time I go up there and return them to the proper place on the stonewall.

Made it to church on time for Easter Morning Service after having breakfast at home and scraping all the mud off me. The truck still was covered with mud in and out. It was fun. P'Link