"Up and down the Spruceton trail with Katie. This is a horse trail. It’s an easy gradual climb. You barely notice those 2000 feet go by. There was a summit steward at the top “regulating” the traffic up the tower, meanwhile 25 or so people milling around The bottom. 🤔 Anyway, we enjoyed our summit beers while we waited. First 4K and fire tower for Katie 🥳. " — bethmorgan • Aug 22, 2020

"Loop of SW Hunter and Hunter via the DP and Spruceton trail with Mimi and Peter. With a late start of 9am we had nice weather of sunshine, cooler temps and a slight breeze, and no rain." — Nimblefoot • Jul 11, 2020

"Six of us did a loop of Rusk, Hunter and Southwest Hunter from the Rusk TH. Nice sunny blue sky but unfortunately that led to warm temps and sticky snow. Bushwhacked over East Rusk on our way to Hunter mtn where we had our usual buffet lunch complete with tablecloth, paper plates and napkins. Bumped into Ralph Ryndak and Rob Stewart, who had whacked up from Becker Hollow TH, at the cabin. We chatted with them while having lunch with the wind blowing and the sun shining. Got to the SWH can and out to Spruceton road before 5 pm so no headlamps were harmed on the venture." — Nimblefoot • Dec 23, 2019

"Tom, Peter, Mimi and I met in the Spruceton trail PA to get in a quick romp of SW Hunter and Hunter before the big snowstorm comes arrives. First a short road walk to get over to the Diamond Notch trail then onto the Devils Path to ascend to the can on the SW peak. Up to the tower on Hunter where we celebrated Tom and Peter’s completion of a single season Fall 35 and Mimi’s completion of her 4 season grid. Do to the windy conditions we dropped down the Spruceton trail to have our catered lunch and present Tom and Peter with their Fall triangle patches. Mimi prepared some bowls of vermicelli soup bowls with seafood right on the trail then opened up a container of spring rolls with dipping sauce and a container of cream puffs. On our way out we passed the only other hiker we would see all day down by the spring below the leanto. He was also doing Hunter before the storm figuring it would be quiet peaceful, which it was. The roads were a bit messy on the way home with a occasional car sliding off into a guard rail or into the median." — Nimblefoot • Dec 1, 2019

"I got a later than planned start from home so when I got to the Spruceton trail TH I found the lot nearly full. Surprisingly there was a solo hiker signed in to do the same peaks I had planned and right before me a couple doing Rusk and it’s East peak. Most folks are usually bound for the tower on Hunter. Once I left the trail at the hairpin curve I headed straight up toward Rusk passing the couple who seemed to be a bit befuddled on which way to go. With the leaves down it was harder to discern the usual herd path from just any opening between trees. I just headed up at a relaxed pace making any necessary corrections as I neared the summit. Signed into the canister then headed over the east peak wearing an orange safety vest just in case. Once back on the trail I took off the vest and enjoyed the climb to the summit tower without getting slapped and poked. As luck would have it a few minutes after reaching the tower and cabin a friend arrived leading a small group who were celebrating one woman’s completion of her 3-season 35er. They proceeded to pull out all sorts of goodies and beverages. After chatting with Lyn,taking some group photos and witnessing the presentation of the pat..." — Nimblefoot • Nov 16, 2019

"Late start for a loop of the two Hunters. Then when I signed into the register I saw two friends, Yong Ae and Christy, had already signed in for same loop with Christy adding Rusk. I figured with a good steady pace I may catch up to Christy but not Yong Ae unless she took a long lunch break on Hunter. After signing into the can on SWH then taking a selfie at the tower on Hunter I ran down the Spruceton trail hoping to catch up one of them. Surprisingly mid way between the usual take off point for the east peak of Rusk and the hairpin turn I caught up to Christy. She explained that she wanted to avoid East Rusk and do Rusk from the hairpin turn. Once we got to the curve she asked me if I wanted to join her...I couldn’t say no." — Nimblefoot • Aug 5, 2019

"Tom, Anna, Yong Ae and myself hiked the classic loop of SW Hunter, Hunter, Rusk East and Rusk starting on the Spruceton trail and finishing with a short road walk. This was a special day for Anna and Yong Ae as they finished their single season Spring round of the Catskill 35 therefore awarded the first two Spring triangle patches from Hikers Anonymous. Prior to finishing on SWH we enjoyed a catered lunch on the summit of Hunter compliments of Yong Ae. Replete with tablecloth, plates and flatware to enjoy chicken wings, spring rolls with dipping sauce, seaweed wraps with rice, kimchi made with local ramps and boc choi, coconut cookies and ginger tea. On SWH their arrival was videotaped with the two ladies wearing green triangular hats emblazoned with their trail names of Daisy and Wildflower and Yong Ae banging a gong. Plenty of Woo hoos and silly poses were added to the occasion." — Nimblefoot • Jun 6, 2019

"Loop of SW Hunter and Hunter on a nice sunny day. Few more hikers and backpackers than usual are out and bout do to it being a holiday Monday. Quick chat with one of the tower volunteers before cruising down the Spruceton trail to my car then get caught in holiday traffic on the thruway." — Nimblefoot • May 27, 2019

"Tom and I doing a loop of SW Hunter and Hunter on a rather cool and breezy day. Other than a quick hike out to the view near the jct of the Hunter mtn and Spruceton trails for Tom to take some photos we didn’t do much lollygagging today. Once at the tower and cabin we ate a quick lunch trying to stay out of the wind by hunkering down alongside the cabin. Down below the leanto area the sun came out more and the wind abated making the day feel warmer. The temperature only rose a few degrees but the downward hustle kept us warm till we got to our cars." — Nimblefoot • Feb 26, 2019

"Microspikes on, microspikes off. That was the story of my hike up Hunter Mountain. The Spruceton trail alternated between icy sections and bare sections at the beginning, and then between icy and snowy sections beyond the trail junction 1.7 miles from the firetower. The snow was hard and not too deep, so no snowshoes were required. Thankfully I left them in the car because my winter pack was heavy enough! Near the summit, I encountered snow flurries and blowing snow that made it feel like a proper winter hike! :) The winds atop Hunter's firetower were nearly as strong as they were on Overlook's around sunrise. Learning from the mistakes I made this morning, I didn't spend nearly as much time on this tower and didn't even bother turning on my phone. All of my summit photos were taken with my point-and-shoot camera. Overall, I would give this mountain a 4 or 5 in terms of difficulty. I stopped more than I wanted to near the summit, but that probably has more to do with how much weight I have put on during the long winter. This hike, and my subsequent hike up Slide Mountain, served as huge wake-up calls. I need to get myself back in shape before I take on Colorado's highest..." — theascent • Feb 9, 2019