After entering State land, you will notice large plantations of evergreens on the north side of the trail. These evergreens are red pine (Pinus resinosa), a native species, and Norway spuce (Picea abies). Norway spruce is an introduced species, planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s with the purpose of helping the forest recover (because they grow quickly). However, this species has a hard time regenerating here in the Catskills and eventually will lose out.
	People often use the word "pine" to refer all evergreens, however, as you can see by the image above, pines are very different from others such as fir, spruce, and hemlock. Here, red pine can be seen on the left and Norway spruce on the right. The image on the left shows another species uncommon in the Catskills, shagbark hickory (Carya ovata). You may notice some white oaks (Quercus alba) as well. Their huge, spreading crown helps form the dense canopy you see, choking-out all understory species hoping to grow.
As the red clay trail inclines a bit more, you will come upon an area that has been opened up because of recent timber harvest. This operation was likely done just before the previous owner sold the land to the State. As you can see from the image, many large trees were left, providing a good seed crop for forest regeneration. The forest has already started to recover, allowing shade-intolerant species to thrive.
	After the harvest site, the trail gets a little steeper, and gradually turns to the south. The red clays give way to gray sandstone outcroppings, indicating your closing in on Bearpen's top ridge. On the eastern (downslope) side, the foundation from a small building can be seen. Throughout your hike, evidence of past and present human activity is readily available.