Hello,

What is living in the Albany area like? Specifically, opportunities for trail running, hiking, road biking?

Thanks!

I live in the Houston area, but I have a granddaughter in the Glens Falls area just north of Albany. I have not been there myself, you are very close to Vermont and the Adirondacks. With the changing seasons, I think you would have a pretty good choice of outdoor activities.

You will be within reasonable driving range of a significant portion of the Appalachian Trail - just a few hours at most to any trailhead from NJ to NH.

You will also be near the eastern terminus of the North Country Trail, which extends west through NY (through near where I live in MI and further to ND, if you did not already know that).

So, those are two major National Scenic Trails that are nearby (most people are lucky to have even one!). And, there are other trails everywhere.

I personally enjoy Eastern hiking a lot. It's a great place to enjoy the change of seasons.

I think it's the best location in the northeast. Maybe not the greatest city, but you'll be close to EVERYTHING.

Vernon's nose just down 88, an small climb, decent views, Beebee hill- has a restored fire tower, always the Catskills, you aslo have a closer mt. greylock in mass

I live 2 hours from Albany and I drive through it nearly every time I go climbing, hiking, or camping. That oughta tell you something.

Do you ski? If you move there you should start. Gore, Killington, Hunter, Windham...

Thanks for all of the great responses, this really helps. I currently live near Denver and work may take me east.

I am especially interested in trails local to Schenctady that I can hit before or after work. Also, the ability to drive a short ways on the weekends and get away from it all; miles of hiking over rugged terrain.

I do ski and am looking to get an AT setup.

There is a long bike path there that they run marathons on a couple of times a year.
http://www.hmrrc.com/index.cfm?method=Main.Home
http://www.mhbht.org/

FortMental wrote:

tlerunner wrote:Thanks for all of the great responses, this really helps. I currently live near Denver and work may take me east.

I am especially interested in trails local to Schenctady that I can hit before or after work. Also, the ability to drive a short ways on the weekends and get away from it all; miles of hiking over rugged terrain.

I do ski and am looking to get an AT setup.

Get snow shoes! AT skiing in the NE is a bitch. DEFINITELY not like CO. Get a road bike; you can really get away from it all a few miles out of town.

Oh... start buying stock in a bug spray company!

-Sorry about your move! But then there are worse places... like Houston, or Dallas, or Shreveport, or Miami, or Nawrlins, or....shall I continue?

Yeah, but think about all the fun tlerunner's going to have pronouncing and spelling out "Schenectady"!

tlerunner wrote:I do ski and am looking to get an AT setup.

Let's not forget how cool it is, you'll be along the Hudson River....

Busted, I guess I need to be more careful about spelling "Schenectady"

Lots of great info, thanks again.

One more question, how are the lakes, creeks, and rivers for fishing in upstate NY? I heard a few of them have been affected by acid rain.

tlerunner wrote:Busted, I guess I need to be more careful about spelling "Schenectady"

Lots of great info, thanks again.

One more question, how are the lakes, creeks, and rivers for fishing in upstate NY? I heard a few of them have been affected by acid rain.

Absolutely great for canoeing. Acid rain was certainly big in my days up there, especially in the smaller lakes, which might register a pH of 2.5 and were marvelously "clean." The larger lakes were little-affected; chub were more of a problem for stable trout populations in the larger lakes. I'd be curious to know what has happened since.

FortMental wrote:Get snow shoes! AT skiing in the NE is a bitch. DEFINITELY not like CO. Get a road bike; you can really get away from it all a few miles out of town.

I would qualify that a bit - AT skiing like in Colorado sucks out here. But AT-light can be a nice setup. I've decided to get waxless XC skiis with edges, add Silvretta 500s, and use those for XC-type use. For approaching climbs in the Adirondacks or just getting out, the XC scene around here is good, and something like AT-light or Tele-light with mountaineering boots is well-suited to the terrain.

But yeah, don't expect to skin to the top of some sweet downhill like out west, groomed or not. Those opportunities are few and far between around here.