This weekend, I got away with my two 20-something sons for a Midsummer camping and hiking trip in the high peaks area of New York’s Catskill Mountains. We spent the weekend at the Devil’s Tombstone State Campground where older son (right) was in charge of the food and fire. His menu:  Ribs, with fresh corn, grilled veggies. Bacon and Eggs for breakfast. All on a wood fire.

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The hiking was wonderful. The trails in the Catskills, well marked on the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference maps,  take you on incredibly varied terrain. Pine forests soft with fallen needles, steep-sided ridges, glacial erratics, and incredible views overlooking the Hudson Valley.  Here is Newman’s Ledge, where the Catskill Mountain ends and falls sharply away to the Hudson River visible about 10 miles away.

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The rock here was mined for over a hundred years for use as bluestone pavers. In this old, abandoned  quarry, folks had set up a throne for visitors.

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The boys graciously allowed the designated photographer to take a selfie-portrait  in a beautiful stream bed on the Long Path trail near Platte’s Clove, New York.

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Oh, and we even surprised a nearby bear on the trail, who scampered off into the woods.