"Don’t let the short distance listed on All-Trails fool you—hiking up to the summit of the Catskills second-highest peak is harder than trying to dodge traffic out of NYC on a Friday afternoon. You’ll want to start early, wear supportive hiking boots, and plan to make it back down in time to grab lunch at Fellow Mountain Cafe. After hydrating, grab an iced coffee and a BLT with garlic scape mayo, or a tahini brownie to help replenish the salt you lost on the 2,000 feet of elevation gain. For those who prefer to enjoy Hunter Mountain’s views via ski-lift, stop here first to grab a loaf of bread and some to-go containers of hummus and roast chicken salad to stock your picnic spread. " - anne cruz