Friday I went to Otto's Shrunken Head to see Empire Vista - interesting & Otto's is always a fun time. Saturday I met up with a friend and we hiked Mt. Taurus (near Cold Spring). We got a LATE start due to massive traffic all the way on 9 but even starting at 3:15, we still made it back down to the trailhead before sunset. The trail itself (white blaze up, white then blue blaze down) is in better shape & better marked on the way up, and in lousy shape (2 bridges out, lots of damage to the trail itself) on the way down. It wasn't overly crowded (probably due to the heat - 87 degrees?) and the views were amazing. I'm hoping to get back up there once the leaves have turned for even more glorious views. Sunday was the 7th annual Walt Whitman "Song of Myself" marathon reading. I read sections 4, 22, and the final section, #52. It was a good mix of people again although the organization itself was lacking - having us first go to the barque Peking and then back to the Museum and then back again and...you get the idea. It was pretty frustrating but once we got started, aside from a few people who really shouldn't read aloud in public ever, it was really great. Overall, made for a well-rounded weekend though I would love to have been one of the 2 people we saw heading out for a long backpacking trek on Saturday. Maybe just stay out there until it starts to snow? no?