We are awake before daylight with the plan to be out on the local pond as the sun comes up to do a bit of birding; but it is windy.  Tree tops are swaying and even undergrowth is rustling in the nearly steady winds.  It is a no-go on birding so we go for option two and hit some trails.   First up, Kaaterskill Falls. It is the tallest falls in NY and with recent rain it is running pretty full.  The view from the falls overlook entices us to go on down to the foot of the falls to take in the entire drop.  It is a classic falls trail, steep with lots of steps.  The view is well worth the hike. We shed our jackets and slow climb back up to continue along the main trail, the escarpment trail.  You would think that a trail named after cliff edges would be fairly consistent elevation.  Nope.  It is pretty much always up or down, never flat ground and in typical northeast mountains trail style, there is lots of loose rock and dirt with boulders, roots and muddy patches mixed in.  Trail guides promise great views so we journey on.  A bare cliff edge comes into view and from rock ledges we see the valley stretch out below us on to the distant mountains.  We are at stop two, Inspiration Point.  It is beautiful.  A red-tailed hawk glides by and dots of color remind us again of the coming season change.  We chill for a bit and take it all in then start back to the trailhead.  It is just 3 miles out here but we haven’t put in many trail miles lately and want to be sure we are able to get out again tomorrow.  A short route back gets us to the car with a total distance of 4.75 miles.  It has been a great morning.