The One That Was Actually Plan B

April 3, 2026 - By ashleykclevenstine

This was not the original plan for the day.

My first choice had been Stonewall, another hike on the Adirondack Gateway Challenge. But when I arrived where the trailhead was supposed to be, I found myself at the end of a residential road. There were houses surrounding the area, people outside in their yards, and something just didn’t feel right about continuing through. Whether it was the uncertainty of the trailhead location or simply my instincts telling me to move on, I decided not to push it.

Thankfully, Plan B was only a few minutes away.

Redmond’s Overlook is located near the Corinth Reservoir, and pulling into a large, well-marked parking area immediately made me feel much more comfortable. Sometimes a change of plans works out exactly as it should.

This would also be my first “real” hike with Hudson—our first outing over two miles together—and I was excited to see how he handled it.

We started by walking toward the reservoir, where wide open views and several benches offered a perfect place to relax and enjoy the scenery. We decided to save that for later and headed straight onto the trail instead.

Our route took us along the Bald Mountain Trail to Wilson’s Pass before continuing to Redmond’s Overlook. The trail was easy to follow and climbed at a comfortable grade without ever becoming particularly steep. It made for a relaxing hike where I could really take my time and enjoy everything around me.

Hudson quickly proved that all of our mountain biking water-stop training has been paying off. We’ve been encouraging him to recognize streams and puddles as places to grab a drink, and he clearly understood the assignment. Every tiny brook, seep, or puddle along the trail required at least a quick stop for a sip.

Since I wasn’t rushing, I spent part of the hike using my little Field Notes notebook to jot down observations about plants and anything else that caught my eye. I also snapped plenty of reference photos for my nature journal. One of my favorite discoveries was a tiny patch of Partridge Berry, with its adorable dime-sized evergreen leaves creeping along the forest floor. It’ll definitely be making its way into one of my journal sketches.

Before long, we reached Redmond’s Overlook. Up to this point we hadn’t encountered another hiker, aside from hearing voices back near the reservoir, so it felt wonderfully peaceful.

Hudson was an excellent hiking partner. He happily posed for photos, even sat still long enough for us to get a few pictures together, and then settled down beside me while I enjoyed a snack and took in the view.

While we were relaxing, we heard a large bird calling as it swooped through the trees nearby. Unfortunately, my binoculars were still tucked away in my pack—a habit I really need to change if I’m serious about adding new birds to my life list. I never got a clear look, but based on its size, dark coloring, distinctive call, and the loud pecking sounds coming from where it landed, I’m fairly confident it was a Pileated Woodpecker.

After our break, we headed back down from the overlook. At the junction, we decided to take the Old Town Road Trail back instead. I’m always a fan of turning an out-and-back into a loop whenever possible.

This section was…fine.

The trail was much wider than the one we had climbed, but it was also basically one long stream. Water covered much of the trail, which Hudson considered a major improvement. He happily splashed through every puddle while I picked my way around them.

Once we returned to the reservoir, I decided to add the short reservoir loop as well. I’m glad I did. The trail crossed several neat little bridges and offered some beautiful views across the water, making for a relaxing end to the hike.

When we finished the loop, I claimed one of the benches overlooking the reservoir for a well-earned break. I pulled out my watercolor supplies and spent some time painting while Hudson found the perfect stick, lay down beside me, and happily chewed away.

More than anything, I was proud of both of us. I was happy with how my painting turned out, but I was even happier with how content Hudson was to simply relax while I worked. It felt like we’d settled into a comfortable rhythm together.

Once the painting was finished and Hudson’s stick had received the attention it deserved, we packed everything up and made the short walk back to the truck.

What started as a disappointing change of plans ended up becoming one of those hikes that reminds you why it’s worth staying flexible. Redmond’s Overlook wasn’t where I expected to spend the day, but it turned out to be exactly where we needed to be.