12-07-2018 - Cochrane Road (3)

Today I walked the two-mile final segment of Cochrane Road in Durham NY. This westernmost portion was by far the most grueling, probably the most difficult roadside walk I've done yet, due to a number of aligning factors. The road itself is incredibly steep; this section of the road, at an over 12% average grade, is the steepest section of public road in the town, heading straight up the slopes of Mount Pisgah. Sunset keeps getting earlier and earlier, and there was only about 30 minutes of daylight left by the time I parked, making it a race against the clock. Combined with intermittent snowfall and a plummeting temperature (19 F when I got back to the car), this was the perfect challenge for a clear Friday evening.

These photos uploaded in reverse-chronological order, and the last two are horizontal and I can't figure out how to fix them. Please bear with me, as I'm still trying to figure out how to use this thing.

Intermittent precipitation made for slippery conditions.

Snowcapped haybales in an open field.

Looking upstream on Kayser's Brook, where it forms a property line by a field.

Keyser's Brook downstream, entering more dense forest.

The road's steepness did make for spectacular views on the way down, such
as this perspective of Windham at sunset.

Unique ice formations around a trickling stream flowing from the mountain.

Sunset, near the top of the road.

Where Cochrane Road meets CR-20 at its western end I was greeted by this
abandoned house.

Another shot of Keyser's Brook. The rocky stream winds gradually down the
mountain, crossing Cochrane several times.

Winter clearing.

This posted aspen tree obscures a good view of Windham, but Nebo can be
seen to its right.

From this angle, the topographically insignificant Mount Nebo seems more
prominent than its parent peak.

Snowy winter forest, with Mount Pisgah's silhouette against the dusk's
backdrop.

An old square house in the middle of nowhere.

Pisgah oversees the snowy road.