Hike #27

Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park NY. I have been here a few times but this time we took a tour and walked most of the grounds. There are views of the Hudson river. The guest house is where you can buy tickets to go into the house with a guided tour. Also in the guest house there is a gift shop. From the guest house you can walk to the main house and to the gardens.

Inside you get to see some of the rooms and how they would have looked. When I went you could not go to the 3rd floor because it was hot. Before you leave there is a spot you can pull over called the over look, great view of the land and the river.

Famous Artist #8

Jackson Pollock

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Born 1912 and died in 1956

He was a big factor in the abstract expressionist movement with his paintings, it also called action painting, since your using more movement than a normal painting.

His wife Lee Krasner was an influence on his work.

He went to Manual Arts High School in CA where he was expelled.

He studied under Thomas Hart Benton at the Art Students League in NYC. Pollock learned rhythmic use of paint and his fierce independence were more lasting from him.

Pollocks paint pouring came from a workshop in NYC from David Alfaro Siqueiros. during that time he came up with whats known as his "drip" technique.

1938 to 1942 Pollock worked for the WPA Federal Art Project. during that time and through out his life he was a big drinker.

Hike #26

This is the Lewis A Swyer Preserve a few miles from Hike 25 in Styvasent. This one is a bit tricky to park since the parking lot is a strip next to the side of the road and there are no parking signs with arrows which was a bit confusing. There is also a small little trail but thats not the main trail. keep walking along side the road where you will a board walk with the info stand.

The whole trail is a board walk so you dont have to worry about walking in mud. There was a fallen down tree but it was easy to walk over when I went. There are a lot of flowers and plants on both sides and a lot of trees. The park is built around swamp land. There are a few bridges on the trail. Its a very nice spot if you want to walk and not have to worry about getting stuck or lost since the trail is a board walk. At the end of the trail there is a look out area that looks out at the river and the train tracks.

Hike #25

This is the Nutten Hook Reserve also known as the Styvasent Ice House. The road to get to the park it goes from a small two lane to a single lane road but opens up to a big parking lot with a pavilion. As you are walking to the river look out there are 2 trails, one that takes you to a small beach and the other takes you into the woods. In the woods there is a structor and there is a trail as you keep walking but it was over grown when I went there. Also on the road there, you do have to cross over train tracks so look both ways before crossing.

There is a rocky shoreline you can walk on but I would be careful of snacks or other animals hiding in the rocks. There are picnic tables set up near the water and there is a good size beach that you could set up a blanket. It is a cool structor that you can learn about how they used to cut ice out of the river. I do remember in middle school or maybe elementary going here for a field trip

Hike #24

There are trails behind the Hawthorn Valley School in Ghent. The trails when I went were not marks but you can see the trails and the path ways. As you walk through through, You will notice a lot of things, like huts and lanterns from the school.

If your into rock walls and being in the woods this is a perfect spot. Its very well shaded besides the pond. Also after your hike if your hungry and or thirsty the Hawthorn Valley Store is right next to you. Since there are no map or no markers, just look for the lanterns or walk towards the school.

I only did a small walk though and there are other trails and i found out there is a view as well as more things in the woods.