[Journal Entry for February 17, 2007] Like yesterday, the morning is clear and cold, about 12 degrees Fahrenheit. Also like yesterday, I park by the Reeves Meadow Visitor Center in Harriman Park, NY for a morning hike, wearing crampons. It’s a little later in the day than yesterday, 8:30 AM, and the sun is higher in the sky. I head up the valley of the Reeves and Pine Meadow Brooks, but hike more quickly than yesterday, reaching the last bridge in 45 minutes. I then take the Pine Meadow Trail to Pine Meadow Lake. The trail passes Ga-Nus-Quah Rocks, house-sized boulders set near a cascade on the brook. It’s a good swimming hole in summer, but I stop only briefly today. The trail then passes through a wetland, and is quite icy in spots. I crunch right through on my crampons, and head up to the earth-fill dam that impounds Pine Meadow Lake. The surface of the lake is snow-covered and very bright. I greet a group of Korean hikers who pass by; I can see them a few minutes later on the rocks across the Lake. I stand awhile on its shore, admiring the rock cliffs and pine trees on its far shore. The park is full of such cliffs; vertical walls plucked clean by glaciers during the ice age. I then backtrack a bit and head up the side of Diamond Mountain, which is to the west of the Lake. A coyote’s tracks indicate that it had taken the same trail the day before. I see the tracks of chipmunks and squirrels as well. I guess that the coyote knew its business. The flank of the mountain, framed by the deep blue sky, is very beautiful. I meet a fellow hiker at the summit. He’s wearing crampons too, but laments his not having toe-spikes (whereas mine do), so useful in climbing steep slopes. We chat for a few minutes and then set off in opposite directions. I spend a few minutes exploring the summit region. There are spots that afford a good view east towards Pine Meadow Lake, and others that look southwest towards other parts of the Hudson Highlands. Very few signs of civilization can be seen from this spot. There are many beautiful areas near the summit, full of boulders, bushes and short trees, all highlighted by deep blue sky and bright white snow. I stop at the wetland. I am always surprised to find wetlands and ponds at the top of hills here in Harriman Park, but they are really quite common. I then take the HTS Trail over to neighboring Halfway Mountain. It descends into the saddle through a series of short, steep climbs down rock crevices, with more gently sloping laurel groves between. Just before the trail makes its final descent down to the Pine Meadow Brook, it passes by several open areas that command a nice view of the valley. The trail crosses the Brook via a footbridge. Shortly beyond it I rejoin this morning’s trail, which takes me back along Pine Meadow and Reeves Brooks to the parking lot. The sun is pretty high in the sky now and the ice formations along the brooks are well lighted and sparkling. The air has warmed, and it is now just a little below freezing. About three hours.