03-12-2019: Brand Hollow Road

Continuing to work my way through the month-long backlog. I took advantage of the mid-March heat wave, walking Brand Hollow Road only a day after climbing Allen Teator. Near Durham's northwest border, this was by far the most rural road I've yet walked, far more rural even than the rest of Durham. The twisty dirt road was in awful condition and lined by mostly abandoned farmhouses in various states of disrepair. Still, significant elevation gain and total lack of traffic made for an enjoyable and rewarding walk.

Field and forest near where I parked, at a snow plow turnaround at the county line.

More field and forest. Tracks in the snow indicate this field is used by someone, be it a farmer or joyriders.

View westward towards Bates Hill. The road provided excellent views of southern Schoharie County.

Rolling hills along the side of the road. Most of the forest here is reclaimed farmland, laid fallow for centuries.

View eastward on the clay road. Sections like this, exposed to the sunlight, were fairly dry despite the snowmelt.

Ruins of an old house. Many ruins lined the road, some nothing more than old stone foundations, hinting at a more prosperous past.

Hemlock forest on Brand Hollow. The hemlocks' thick canopy keeps sunlight from melting the snow.

Looking east just before the road's intersection with Allen Teator.

Sunlight shines through hemlocks on the roadside.

A large house sits atop a hill with a northward view. Mount Pisgah peeks behind it.

Brand Hollow has some the best views of Steenburg Mountain in town.

Looking down the twisty road. Note how muddier the road is in shaded areas.

The creek that runs through Brand Hollow is formally unnamed, although calling it 'Brand Creek' would make sense.

Snowy hayfields glisten in the sunlight.

Another abandoned farm area. Although evidently still used to store junk, the buildings are too dilapidated to use for livestock or crop storage.

Late afternoon over a broken-down barn.