Ferncliff Forest Fall 2013 (Part V)

Besides taking some more Autumn Photos, I also gathered up some leaves and made a peace sign.  Today the wind was mild so it wasn't very difficult.  The past couple weeks have been windy enough to make taking a picture of one leaf difficult.

It happened to be a beautiful morning to be out.  Since it was Monday, I had the place to myself.  The views from the tower were excellent with the sun shining brightly on the Catskills.
 

Ferncliff Forest Fall 2013 (Part 4)

Ferncliff Forest is an excellent destination for an early morning stroll.  This would be a return hike from just the previous night. 

Ferncliff Forest Fall 2013 (Part 3)

Ferncliff Forest is such a convenient and easy place for me to go to on short notice.  If i'm in town and have the urge to go outside and take in the views, a short drive and a pleasantly short walk leads to some great views of the Hudson River and Catskill mountains.  This happens to be a great spot for an Autumn stroll.

Walk Around Lake Minnewaska

Lake Minnewaska

Autumn colors will not be here for much longer, so I figured to make a quick trip to Minnewaska while I had the chance. 

The Devil's Path

Maple Leaf

The view east

This time of year is great

I like how an individual leaf has multiple colors

A lot of people were out on this crisp, October day.  I parked the car at Jenny Lane and walked by one of my favorite waterfalls, Awosting.  Due to the very dry October (driest in 50 years), the waterfall did not look quite as impressive as usual. 

Awosting Falls

A poor attempt at making a peace sign

From here, I enjoyed some pretty fall colors on the way to the lake.  Since there are many evergreens around Lake Minnewaska, it's not an ideal destination this time of year for leaf peeping.  But there are enough hardwoods to make the trip worthwhile.  Plus, Minnewaska makes a great destination any time of year.   

Minnewaska

Mohonk

Slide and the Catskills

 

Sun shining bright on Minnewaska

   

Ferncliff Forest Fall 2013 (Part 2)

Some of the leaves I gathered

Since I walked up here the previous evening, I had no plans to come here.  But while doing laundry, I decided there was no need to stick around.  So I headed up to take in the views.

The pond reflecting beautifully

 

Lean-to near the pond

I met a guy who was up here for the first time.  Like myself, he thinks the Hudson Valley is one of the most beautiful areas in the world.

I'm amazed at how high up the barge reaches

Colors are starting to show

  The views today were quite stunning.  Without question, morning is the best time to be up here.  The sun shines nicely on the river and the mountains.  An absolutely great spot to chill. 

Ferncliff Forest Fall 2013 (Part 1)

Most of the day was beautiful except late afternoon.  Of course.  I planned to head to Ferncliff Forest for sunset and expecting peak conditions.  I would see neither.  But I spot an interesting bird (I wish I knew my birds).  I would like to say I spotted an owl, but I think it's a hawk. 

That has to be an owl, right?

Colgate Lake & Fall Foliage

Some nice foliage on the way to Windham

While driving to Windham on a job search, I took a detour to Colgate Lake.  For all the times that I've been into the Catskills, I had yet to check out this supposed beautiful area.  When I used to hike with one of my friends, he would always point out Colgate Lake.  It was an area he was familiar with and where he did some fishing and camping.

These will most likely be the best foliage I see:

 

I figured since it was fall, this would be a great time to check out the area.  Unfortunately due to the warm weather we've experienced recently, foliage is not going to produce ideal colors.  Since Colgate Lake is over 2,000 feet elevation, the area here is past peak foliage.  But what I really have to say is that the valley leading into Colgate is one of the prettiest in the Catskills.  There are some nice rolling hills. Some old farms.  I cannot imagine life has changed too much here.
  

Colgate Lake

Blackhead Range

Colgate Lake

Blackhead Range

The hills leading to Thomas Cole

Methodist Church in East Jewett

Onteora Mt as seen from East Jewett.  Trees are already bare.

There is a Colgate Lake Trail, but that is a 4 mile trail that connects Colgate Lake to the Escarpment Trail in between Blackhead and Stoppel Point.  I didn't have time for this, but I'm thinking it may make a great snowshoe walk.  Instead I walked along the northern shore of Colgate.  Here one gets a great up close view of the Blackhead Range.  The Escarpment from Blackhead to Stoppel is also in view.  It appears there is a herd path that circumnavigates the lake.  I just wasn't prepared to get my feet wet.  That will also have to wait for another time.