Hiking up Black Mountain - Amanda doesn't mind a little mud on her jeans.
 
 

A view through birches on the way up.
 
 

Amanda on top of the world (Black Mountain peak).
 
 

Spots of sun and land in Lake George, fall color in the foreground.
 
 

Flooded trees and fall color, but it almost looks like a retreating forest fire.
 
 

Amanda is ready for our epic hike over the Tongue Mountain range.
 
 

Our trail followed sawtooth topography as we climbed peak after peak.  Amanda enjoys a well-deserved rest.
 
 

Looking back across the lake at yesterdays climb, Black Mountain.
 
 

Who knew cloudy days could be this beautiful?
 
 

At last, we dropped down from "First Peak" to the point.
 
 

The return leg of our loop followed a flatter trail near lake level.  I pause by a small falls.
 
 

Green and white ferns lined our way.  Total hike: over 12 (horizontal) miles, 8 hours.
 
 

The next day, we took a little warmup hike to a pond a few miles from our cabin.
 
 

Then we took on Pharoah Mountain.  Amanda looks up as crimson leaves fall to her feet.
 
 

The view from Pharoah Mountain Peak (see also 2001).
 
 

Amanda contemplates from her lofty perch.