Mariposa State Forest - Paradise Hill to Mariposa Road

     Exploring new places and stretches of trails was one of the original motivations for writing this blog in the first place, which is why I decided to hike further into Mariposa State Forest along the Finger Lakes Trail.  My intention was to hike out to where the FLT reached the junction with the Link Trail and return the same way I came as a good-distance out-and-back.  I made the mistake, however, of not looking up maps before I left my house, so I never quite made it all the way to the Link Trail (although I would later learn I came pretty close).
     It was a warm early spring day (highs near 60) with abundant sunshine that was very welcome after nearly 2 weeks of grey skies and general dreariness.  I started my hike at a parking area just before the FLT crosses Paradise Hill Road (this is also not far from where my hike last summer in Mariposa Forest ended).  Hiking eastward, I immediately traveled parallel to that open field where glimpses of distant hills can be seen. 

    What a beautiful start!  Next came a thick stand of tall white pines which, it must be noted, is not very common to find in Central New York forests. 

      The path brought me uphill a bit before thrusting into an abrupt forest change: that of beech and maple where there was less shade and more air-warming sunshine.  Quickly the ridge southeast of where I stood could be seen.

Once small groves of hemlocks appeared, I began pitching downhill ever so steeper (knowing full well I'd have to return this way uphill!)   The trail then reached paved Dublin Road at the bottom of a wetland valley and I was required to road walk 0.3 miles to reach the next trail section.  Surprisingly, this road walking was very attractive and even photo-worthy.

 The FLT soon re-entered the woods, this time into a heavily-shaded, almost enchanting stand of firs and spruces that concealed some fallen logs coated in wet moss. 

 An old house structure of some sort (and not-yet-melted snow from winter):

 Signs of spring. . .

Heading further on, I hiked past small spruces, a steep hillside to my right, and, shortly afterward, uphill for my first true ascent of this outing.  

I followed the familiar white painted blazes through a thick hemlock slope, catching my breath, aware that the path was becoming a little more rugged.  

As I mentioned in my last blog in Mariposa, I especially enjoy the quick forest transitions found here.  It makes the hike that much more interesting.  

After crossing the muddy snowmobile path seen in the picture above, I traversed a more level stretch of hardwoods before crossing Mariposa Road.  

On the other side of the roadway, the FLT, of course, continued, and I when I checked the time I found I was already two hours and roughly 3.5 miles from my starting point.  As I mentioned earlier, I wanted to get to the Link Trail junction, but I knew if I turned back here my hike would still be 4 hours in length.  So I chose to go just a bit further to reach a scenic creek with a bridge and a wooden Leopold bench which made a perfect resting spot.  

I sat here for a few minutes, contemplating the beauty of these places and how fortunate it is to have so many great trail volunteers keeping these areas accessible.  Well done!

I turned back, retraced my steps, and returned to my car, and when all was said and done, it was, as I predicted, 4 hours of hiking - totaling 7 miles with an overall elevation gain of about 410 feet.  I hope to return someday!