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The Wildmere

Awosting Lake

About three-quarters of a mile distant are a series of wonderful rents in the mountains over one hundred feet deep, some of the fissures being open to the light and others covered.

One and three-fourths miles from the lake are the Millbrook Mountains, where the cliffs are in some places perpendicular, and in others over-hanging the rocks five hundred feet below. The views here are remarkably grand and impressive.

Still nearer, in a deep glen of the mountain, is the Palmaghatt, where is a large forest of massive primeval hemlocks. To all these and many other strange and picturesque places, good walks have been constructed, and a large number of covered seats and summer-houses (about ninety in all) have been built. Three drives have been built recently to Millbrook Mountains, Kempton Ledge, and Beacon Hill.

Since last season over two thousand acres adjoining Minnewaska have been added to the estate, which now covers above five thousand acres of land. This new tract includes the magnificent Awosting Lake, having four times the extent of Lake Minnewaska; also the lofty High Point; the bold Hamilton Ledge, several miles long and several hundred feet in perpendicular height; the picturesque Stonykill Falls, ninety-five feet high, and much other strange scenery peculiar to the Shawangunk Mountains.

A fine road, three and one-half miles long, has been built from Minnewaska to Awosting Lake, passing through the wild Huntington Ravine (Dark Hole). During the spring and summer this road will be extended around the lake four and one-half miles farther. Another road has been built through the Palmaghatt to the edge of Hamilton Ledge. All these roads are of very easy grades, being for the most part nearly level, and are specially adapted to the use of the bicycle.