Catskill Empowerment Hike -- Bear Mountain To West Mountain Loop, Dec. 11,  2004 (during hunting season on the Catskills).

Our group of six -- Yoshiko, Lynda, David, Steve, Dick and Tom -- started up Bear Mountain from Hessian Lake on a cloudy and foggy day in the mid-forties. Headling up Bear and then along the AT over West Mountain, we had some nice views of the Hudson though the mist. After hiking the 10-mile loop in good spirits, we returned on the Suffern-Bear Mt. trail through Doodletown to the Bear Mountain Inn and the carousel, where we were greeted by a very merry Santa. A highly empowering day, and Lynda's first big hike, we had Bear Mountain and Harriman Park almost to ourselves.