Hiking Frenzy - Harriman and Bear Mountain

In the past few weeks we've been going hiking on the weekends. We bought a new child carrier (the Kelty FC3.0, highly recommended!) since our first hike up to Bear Mountain with the inappropriate front-carrying Baby Bjorn. We went back to Bear Mountain and followed the more challenging Major Welch trail (on the way down!). Then one Saturday we went up the popular Pine Meadow Lake Trail in Harriman State Park. When we got to the lake (2.25 and mild elevation gain - easy to moderate) we realized we should have brought bathing suits. The lake is relatively secluded and serene as cars cannot reach it (unlike Lake Welch, which is overrun!) with several rock outcroppings suitable as tiny beaches (I believe, officially, swimming is not allowed - so don't tell!). So we went back the next day and had a great swim with Lizzy. There are plenty of fish big and small and Lizzy enjoyed following them as they ate our bread crumbs (and the Cheerios Lizzy kept throwing on the floor). We have gone back twice since, both times in foul weather and even bought a pair of walking sticks mimicking the other hikers on that trail (mostly small and large groups of older Koreans). We were joined by one of my work colleagues on one occasion, and our friends with their two daughters on another. I feel we've now exhausted that portion of the trail, so we'll either do another or avoid the lake and continue on that trail further (there's a 10-mile loop we could try) on our next trip out hiking. You can see pictures from these various hikes here: