03-09-2019: Allen Teator Road

As promised, just images. This is the first of three portions involving Allen Teator, continuing my attempt to walk all public roads in Durham NY.

This is actually a picture from CR-10 in Prattsville NY, taken before I decided to walk in Durham instead. From left to right are Bearpen Mountain, Roundtop, and Shultice Mountain.

View from the overlook on CR-20 where I parked. (I know I said no more CR-20 in an earlier post, but there was nowhere else to park). Acra Point and Windham HP rise prominently over the valley.

Another view from the overlook, where Mount Pisgah looms in the southwest.

One of the most interesting features on Allen Teator Rd is a massive farm, visible from the valley below, over which it has spectacular views. This looks north towards Preston Hollow.

A similar perspective as above, from farther down the road. The farm raises Highland cows, which are well-suited to the cold, windy mountain weather.

The trunk of a long-dead maple tree guards a more northeasterly view of the upper Hudson Valley.

Past the farm is a large, steep field. This field is quite prominent from the valley, with one lone tree at its center (off-camera); in childhood it spurred my imagination.

View northeast down the road. Allen Teator is the second-steepest road in Durham, and long straightaways like this are common along its length.

Afternoon sun cast spindly shadows on a turn in the frozen road.

After a long streak of cloudy weather, the sunlight shining through the extensive hemlock forests that line Allen Teator seemed especially beautiful.

The historic Allen Teator Stone Arch bridge, like most bridges in town, was the work of 19th-century bridgebuilder Jeremiah Cunningham. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places with many of Cunningham's other works, although it is no longer in use today.

Heading back up the mountain, Windham and Acra Point appeared quite prominently above the valley.

The cattle farm covers very steep, rocky ground, quite typical of many farms in the region.

Windham and Acra rise over the open field; below them, a lone pine tree guards the view of the valley.

As I climbed the road, the mountains rose above the farm, like the moon on a clear night.

Although much of Durham is located at high elevations, most open farmland is in the valley. Spectacular views like this are not as commonplace as one might imagine.

From the crest of the road the northern Catskills appeared in full force. From right to left: Acra Point, Kate Hill, Windham HP, Mount Zoar, Mount Ginseng, Mount Hayden, and Mount Nebo.

A view of Mount Hayden, taken as I walked back up CR-20. I took a picture from here during a snow squall in January; it's located in one of my CR-20 posts if you'd like to compare.

The other side of the valley, seen from Route 20.

One final picture of the mountains from the Durham Overlook. I swear, this is the last one (for now)!