Region

A large white boat labeled "LAC du SAINT SACREMENT" sailing on a lake near a grand resort with a pool, lush trees, and rolling hills in the background.
View of the Texas State Capitol with its reflecting pool and a modern statue in front. The scene includes a large building behind the capitol and trees lining the area.
Fresh apples in woven baskets with a bottle of apple cider in the foreground, and grocery bags in the background at an outdoor market.
Information sign about Columbian Spring and Fountain in a park with a pavilion in the background.
Red covered bridge with white trim labeled Buskirks Bridge, with height and weight limits signs, over a small road with guard rails, surrounded by trees.
Two young cows standing behind a wooden fence on a lush green farm with rolling hills in the background, under a clear blue sky.
Colorful fall foliage along a river with reflections in the water.
A young deer with small antlers standing in a field of grass and wildflowers, with green foliage in the background.

Our Little Valley

and its Surroundings

Easton Mountain, situated in Washington County, NY, is surrounded by diverse mountain ranges, including the Adirondacks to the North and West, the Green Mountains to the East, and the Taconic Mountains to the South. Within an hour's drive, you can reach Albany, the capital of New York state, as well as the historically rich Saratoga Springs and charming towns like Greenwich, Schuylerville, and Cambridge.

The region boasts numerous lakes and rivers, including Lake George, Saratoga Lake, and the Hudson River. The scenic landscape around Easton Mountain, characterized by rolling hills, is home to dairy farms, flourishing apple orchards, and various other farms that contribute to the agricultural diversity of the region.

While relatively far from recognized public trails, Easton sits on Fly Creek, an offshoot of the nearby Batten Kill, from which Perch, Salmon, and Pike are commonly caught. Fly Creek flows into Wampecack Creek to the south, which then feeds into the Hoosic River.

Whitetailed Deer, Monarch Butterflies, Blue Jays, Bobcats, Coyotes, Beavers, and even Star-nosed moles!

Native Animals:

Native Plants:

Topographic map showing mountains, elevations, a reservoir, roads, and a marker at a specific location near lower right.

Black Cherry, Sugar Maple, White Pine, Garlic Mustard, Queen Anne’s Lace, Heal-all, Witch Hazel, Lilac, and Yarrow.

Geologic History

Easton Mountain counts itself among the Taconic Mountains, which form the upper right half of the Hudson Valley. Spanning from the middle of Vermont to the northwest corner of Connecticut, these mountains were born over 450,000,000 years ago. During what is called the Taconic Orogeny (from oros: "mountain" and -geny “genesis” from Greek), the two tectonic plates that carried proto-America and proto-Europe crashed together. Mighty forces ensued, causing the creation of a chain of volcanic islands. These islands, still carried by the plate beneath them, slammed into the land, shearing over even older mountains there already. These resulting mountains—the Taconic Mountains—could originally have been over 10,000 feet tall!

Through these processes and others over millions of years, the rocks graywacke, shale, slate, and chert are now commonly found on and around the grounds today. Of the fossils found from the eras leading to our current time, sponges, arthropods, and even some animal fossils have been found in areas geologically like Easton in New York.

While the peaks Easton is surrounded by are highly eroded shells of their old selves, the thought that Easton Mountain could have been half the height or more of Mount Everest continues to inspire people who come here seeking peace and natural beauty.

Map highlighting the area around Albany, New York, with a marker near Saratoga Springs.

Sources:

  • Wikipedia, “Taconic Orogeny”, April 2024

  • Open Geology, Historical Geology: Case Studies: Taconian Orogeny, April 2024

  • Natural Atlas, Ecoregions: Taconic Mountains, April 2024

  • OpenTopoMap, Long. 43.03006 Lat. -73.50832, April 2024