[Journal entry for August 15, 2018; Rattlesnake Hill, Black Rock Forest, Cornwall New York]. The morning was clear, so I decided to return to Rattlesnake Hill and see if I could take some photographs that were less gray then those from my last trip, when the sky was very hazy. I parked at the Hiker’s Lot on Reservoir Road (a woods road) and headed directly to the hill, taking Reservoir Road to Upper Reservoir and then Bog Meadow Road and Carpenter Road (both also woods roads) to the Scenic Trail (blazed in white). Late summer flowers were blooming, including Queen Anne ’s Lace, Goldenrod, Chicory and Purple Loosestrfe. Mushrooms with a wide variety of colors were also abundant. All the recent rain recharged the reservoirs and the streams were lively. I practiced taking shots with sunbursts as I walked down the shady roads, using the overhanging boughs of trees to partially block the sun, so as not to overexpose the images. I huffed up the trail to the south flank of the hill and spent a few minutes at each of several overlooks, admiring views of Bog Meadow Pond, Hill of Pines (with its rocky summit) and the other neighboring hills (with wooded summits). I could see the big tree fall on the lakeshore that I had walked up to (and detoured around) on my last trip to the Forest. I was pleased that the southern sky was bluer than on my last trip to this hill. I had a mishap when my foot slid on a damp lichen-covered ledge, landing me in a Blueberry Bush. I sustained no injury, but was reminded how easy making a mistake while hiking can be. I returned via the woods road along the shore of Aleck Meadow Reservoir and the Honey Hill Trail (blazed in white). The distance is about the same as taking the woods roads, or maybe a little less, though the terrain is tougher. The view of the reservoir and its massive spillway from the dam is very nice. And Honey Hill has a beautiful overlook with a good view of Black Rock Mountain. Before heading home, I made a bowl of oatmeal for lunch, cooking it with my MSR PocketRocket stove, while sitting in the sun on a rock by my car. 3:00.