"Went to Allegany State Park today to check out some of the peaks on the new peakbagging challenges that I created earlier this month. This one is part of the Allegany Off-Trail Challenge. It wasn't a very long bushwhack to Red Jacket Hill's summit area, but it was fairly steep and sloppy in parts. There were no views from the summit or the nearby open field. The best view I found was on the Red Jacket trail, a little north of the Conservation Trail junction. Did an extensive tick check after returning to the car as the conditions were ripe for getting one of those buggers on me. Fortunately I didn't spot any. " — theascent • May 30, 2020

"Up to Fahnestock to take the AT up to the American flag and bench mark on the top of Shenandoah. Had the trail to myself on the way in then on my way out numerous groups of friends or families were heading in and many of them not fully knowing where they are headed. Some were carrying coolers and beach gear taking the long and hard way to the closed beach on Canopus Lake I guess(?). On my way down Rt 9, still in Putnam Co., I popped onto Indian Brook road to take a short stroll up to Moneyhole mountain just for sh*ts and giggles. A beautiful day hotting up nicely with full sunshine." — Nimblefoot • May 30, 2020

"Up to Fahnestock to take the AT up to the American flag and bench mark on the top of Shenandoah. Had the trail to myself on the way in then on my way out numerous groups of friends or families were heading in and many of them not fully knowing where they are headed. Some were carrying coolers and beach gear taking the long and hard way to the closed beach on Canopus Lake I guess(?). On my way down Rt 9, still in Putnam Co., I popped onto Indian Brook road to take a short stroll up to Moneyhole mountain just for sh*ts and giggles. A beautiful day hotting up nicely with full sunshine." — Nimblefoot • May 30, 2020

"My final hike in Allegany State Park was to Christian Hollow Overlook and Townsend Benchmark, with a couple of stops at the closed Summit Firetower. This was more of a nature walk than a proper hike, as the trails were mostly flat and wide. Lots of people were out walking their dogs here. The view from Christian Hollow Overlook was one of the best I've found in the park -- from higher ground at least. There was also a ski hut at the summit that a group of guys were occupying at the time. Wouldn't mind going back there in the future to spend some time there myself. You couldn't ask for a nicer setting! Locating Townsend Benchmark in the woods was a nice surprise. I wasn't expecting to find it. Since it's a raised benchmark, it wasn't a terribly difficult find. " — theascent • May 30, 2020

"This was my first time hiking on the Osgood Hiking Trail in Allegany State Park. Like most trails in the park, there weren't any open views. In spite of this, it was a scenic trail with many large rocks on the eastern side of the loop. A makeshift shelter marks the summit and it was all downhill from there (which is usually a good thing on hiking trails)! Despite the McIntosh parking area being halfway full, I didn't encounter another person during my 2.5 mile counter-clockwise loop. Didn't see any wildlife either. " — theascent • May 30, 2020