Our first community hike: 8/15/26 recap & photos
This past Saturday we had our first community hike at Cascade Lake in Warwick, NY.
We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful August day. It was cool in the morning, low humidity, sunshine, blue skies and fresh air. After meeting our guides, getting organized, putting on more bug spray and taking a quick “bio” break, we headed into the woods.
As we walked, we learned about mushrooms, plants, trees and rocks. We saw toads, millipedes, butterflies, beautiful ferns, moss and so many different mushrooms. We also learned a lot about hiking, from electrolytes, proper socks and clothing to effective bug protection.
At the summit, we had beautiful views of Greenwood Lake and the surrounding mountains. We could see Manhattan far in the distance and watched a hawk in flight.
Deep in the forest, someone noticed a patch of bright red among all the green. It was so red it looked like flowers. When we got closer, we saw it was a tiny cluster of leaves that had already turned red, a sign in nature of the subtle shift of energy toward Autumn.
Our adventure did turn out to be more rigorous than we expected! We had three guides who were wonderful about helping everyone along the way. They were professional, attentive, supportive and knowledgeable. The level of professionalism exceeded my expectations. We were in great hands. The challenge definitely made the day memorable. I had a few really hearty laughs along the way… that felt so good :) By the end, we were all amazed by what we had accomplished. It was a challenge, and WE DID IT!
Something else I loved was how our group came together. We had some from my online community, Monday Pearl River class, Mahwah Library class and last summer’s Five Element Masterclass. We had wonderful chemistry, lots of conversations and many laughs.
I learned a lot from this hike and how we can adjust to make the next one even better. We’ll continue our partnership with the Trailbound Project, and together we’re already talking about planning the next one. I’m thinking spring, with wildflower fields. Stay tuned!
