CATSKILLS:  COLGATE LAKE TRAIL, 4/23/17

After a fun and busy night at the Four Thousand Footer Club annual awards ceremony at its new location at the high school in Exeter, NH - with more than 700 people in attendance - and a late night stay-over in Sturbridge, MA, Carol and I headed to New York State for our spring vacation in the snow-free Catskill Mountains.

After unpacking at our rented condo in Hunter, we headed up to the mellow Colgate Lake Trail for an evening geocaching hike. At the start, the trail leads through fields with views of the three peaks of the Blackhead Range: Thomas Cole, Black Dome and Blackhead (L to R).

The Colgate Lake Trail meanders through a mix of hemlocks (Carol's favorite) and hardwoods.

  Our turnaround point was a geocache just beyond a bridged crossing of this brook at 1.2 miles.

A peaceful forest scene at the bridge.

Evening light in the hardwoods.

Heading back through the fields, looking south.

Looking NE to Blackhead Mountain and the ridge called "Arizona." We have been on Colgate Lake Trail several times and always enjoy it for an easy Catskill stroll.