Overnight Loop of Wittenburg, Cornell & Slide Mountains

Parking: End of Denning Rd, Claryville, NY 12725 
Distance: 24.4 miles 
Time: 2 days, 1 night

The Escarpment Trail

Arguably the most picturesque trail in the Catskills, this 23.9 mile path follows the northeastern border of the Catskill Mountains.  It can be hiked over 2 or 3 days.  I traversed this trail in two.

Parking: Start Point (where I was dropped off) Schutt Road Trailhead Parking, Palenville, NY; End point (where I parked) Elm Ridge Forest Parking, Route 23, Windham, NY
Distance: 23.9 miles (without detours for water)
Time: 2 days, 1 night

Bushwhack Weekend: Fir & Halcott Mountains

Bagging 2 Catskill 35's and camping always makes for a good weekend.  This would be no exception. 

Fir Mountain

Parking: 41.991421, -74.485022 County Rd 47/West Branch Rd, Claryville, NY (1/2 mile past 1840 West Branch Rd)

Distance: 8-9 miles

Time: 6-8 hours

Gear:

• Daypack with rain cover
• 2.5-3L of water 
• Lunch, snacks 
• First aid, athletic tape, knife, bug spray
• Water filter with "dirty" bag
• Smartphone - GPS
• Compass
• Trekking poles
• Map - New York New Jersey Trail Conference #143
• Hiking boots 
• Polyester fleece
• NO COTTON - Why no cotton?  Cotton is a thicker material and isn't as breathable as synthetic materials.  Once it's wet, it becomes heavier and takes longer to dry.

Fir Mountain can be hiked with Big Indian Mountain when starting from the Seager trail head.  I had hiked Big Indian with Eagle Mountain before my navigation skills really took hold.

The route I chose is half on trail, half bushwhack.  It begins on the blue Pine Ridge-West Branch trail across the road from the parking lot.  The trail will head up for the first mile before taking a hard right and somewhat leveling off around 2,450 feet.  When the trail levels there is another mile before the Biscuit Brook lean-to.  The shelter is well placed off the trail and down towards its namesake, Biscuit Brook.

I took a short rest at the shelter and had a sugary snack before beginning my climb.  Walking back up to the trail I located myself on the map and with GPS.  Between the summit & myself was 1.5 miles of forest.  There is nothing particularly exciting or difficult about this trek up the mountain.  It is a steep ascent through forest and brush.  I took several quick rests and a few extended breaks as I made my way up the slope.  Due to the season, looking back as I rose up the mountainside provided some nice views.

The summit canister was not difficult to find due to my course.  It is always a joy to see that canister on the tree.  You know you have done it.  You made it to the top of the mountain, literally.  I haven't found words to yet to describe how it feels to me.  Each mountain thereafter just heightens the feeling.

After the hike I would retreat to camp along Route 28.  It is a primitive campsite, therefore there are no facilities (except for 1 port-a-john).  There are a number of sites on this preserve along 2 roads neatly tucked away and high off the road. Click here to view my post about this camping area.

The following day I had planned to 'whack my way to Halcott Mountain.  The trailhead was only 20 minutes or so from camp.  After completing Halcott, I would have only 4 mountains to remaining in order to full my requirements for entrance into the Catskill 3500 Club.

Halcott Mountain

Parking:  42.165197,-74.409271 Shaft Rd, Shandaken NY 

Distance: 5-6 miles

Time: 6 hours

Gear:

• Daypack with rain cover
• 2.5-3L of water 
• Lunch, snacks 
• First aid, athletic tape, knife, bug spray
• Water filter with "dirty" bag
• Smartphone - GPS
• Compass
• Trekking poles
• Map - New York New Jersey Trail Conference #143
• Hiking boots 
• Polyester fleece
• NO COTTON - Why no cotton?  Cotton is a thicker material and isn't as breathable as synthetic materials.  Once it's wet, it becomes heavier and takes longer to dry.

Halcott Mountain sits alone in Halcott Mountain Wild Forest which is a small preserve that is a part of Catskill Park.  I decided upon the longer route so that I could test my navigation skills.  There is a shorter ascent that follows a stream about a mile and a half north from where I began.  This would come into play later.

Starting from the southbound side of Route 42 the mountain rises immediately.  This initial steep climb persists for half a mile.  A small brow in the slope at around 2,300' ASL allows for the chance to catch my breath.  The brush is not that thick thus far, which is nice.  I took a break right before the land began to head up again.  After adjusting my bearing I proceeded to climb the next .75 mile.  The bush was getting thicker as I trekked deeper into the forest.  There are no views on this hike except for one close to the summit.  Its all forest and canopy.  The slope however was not as steep at this point, and so my pace improved.

Resting for a bit to catch my breath, I made another change to my bearing.  This one would put me on a direct course to the summit, another 3/4 of a mile away.  The terrain was getting easier to read so I was able to navigate by land rather than by compass on this final section.  It wasn't long before I reached the summit and register.  There was a nice clearing, seemingly on a pedestal above the mountain below.  As the skies began to turn gray-er, I sat and ate lunch after signing the summit register hoping the rain would hold off.  I knew it was in the forecast but tried not to think about it all day.  

Making quick work of my lunch I proceeded down Halcott Mountain.  After a few hundred feet I grabbed for my smartphone to check my position on GPS.  The device was not there.  It was not in my immediate area either, and the rain was just getting started.  Are you freaking kidding me?!!

I panicked for 30 seconds before finding a small tree to shelter beneath out of the rain. I was frustrated with myself more than anything.  I had been careless with my mobile and now it was gone. What should I do?  Wait the rain out, head back up the mountain and look for my phone?  It could be anywhere, have fallen out at anytime before I noticed.  It could have tumbled and landed under a pile of leaves.   Was it really possible to find it?  After a few minutes I decided it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.  My plan for the descent was simple at this point.  I would head straight for the stream and follow it to the road.  That was the easiest and quickest way down.  It would not require much navigation at all.  

A few hours later I made it back to my car, soaked and annoyed.  With the phone gone, I lost numerous photos from 3 hikes.  In the grand scheme of things it really didn't mean much.  I would replace the phone but these hikes and mountain summit experiences were irreplaceable.  This was my 35th climb on my way to the Catskill 3500 Club. Remaining peaks are Lone, Rocky, Balsam Cap and Friday - the most isolated of the peaks and bushwhacks.

Windham High Peak

Most people know Windham Mountain for its skiing.  To us hikers, it's just another summit to bag.  At 3,524 feet it is one of the smallest of the Catskill 35's.

Parking: 42.296499,-74.169146 End of Peck Rd, Maplecrest, NY
Distance: 6-7 miles
Time: 3-5 hours


Gear:

• Daypack with rain cover
• 2.5-3L of water 
• Lunch, snacks 
• First aid, athletic tape, knife, bug spray
• Water filter with "dirty" bag
• Compass
• Trekking poles
• Map - New York New Jersey Trail Conference #141
• Hiking boots 
• NO COTTON - Why no cotton?  Cotton is a thicker material and isn't as breathable as synthetic materials.  Once it's wet, it becomes heavier and takes longer to dry.

Hiking to the summit of Windham High Peak is quite easy.  There are 2 trails to follow and it is an out and back hike. Viewpoints on the summit offer fantastic landscapes to the north and south.  

Beginning on the yellow Elm Ridge trail, the trek starts very easy.  It continues this way for about nine-tenths of a mile. This brings you to the junction with the blue trail - Escarpment merged with the Long Path.  

The Escarpment trail is a 23-24 mile long path stretching from Elm Ridge Wild Forest in the north to North-South Lake in the south.  It offers an incredible test of endurance and provides some of the best views in the region.  The Long Path is one of New York's long distance trails.  It actually starts in Fort Lee, NJ at the George Washington Bridge, is 357 miles long and ends in Altamont, NY.  

Turning right onto the blue Escarpment/Long Path, the trail begins to climb.  For a little over a mile the mountain rises gradually.  At around 2,800' the trail begins to get steeper as you move along.  Somewhere in the 3,300' range it eases slightly.  The smell of the furs and pines at this elevation makes its way to my nose, and I know I am almost at the top. 

I made it to the summit ridge in just under 2 hours.  The first viewpoint on my right looks south.  The peaks of Thomas Cole, Black Dome and Blackhead can be seen.  Blackhead Mountain is also on the Escarpment trail, 7.2 miles from Windham HP.  The weather on this particular day was beautiful so I took a nap at this scenic spot for about an hour. Sitting up and opening my eyes was such a pleasure.  The mountains, blue sky and white puffy clouds are very soothing to the retina.  

On the opposite side of the trail was a less impressive view to the north, but a very nice view nonetheless.  The official summit is a short distance further, marked by a geological stamp in the rock.   Turning around and retracing my steps takes is my return route. 

Now if you're still reading and wondering where all the wonderful pictures are, they are in my phone.  My old phone. That I lost.  On the hike after this one.  The photos for this trek hadn't been downloaded yet, so they're gone along with those from the subsequent 2 hikes; those two hikes are Fir Mountain and Halcott Mountain.  Stay tuned!

  

Kaaterskill High Peak

Parking: 42.170966, -74.113324 Dead end at Gillespie Rd, Elka Park, NY 12427
Distance: 6-7 miles
Time: 4-6 hours

Out and back to Twin Mountain

Twin Mountain is on the Devil's Path between Sugarloaf and Indian Head Mountains at an elevation of 3,640 feet above sea level.

Parking: 42.150949, -74.131138 Roaring Kill Trailhead, Elka Park, NY
Distance: 6 miles
Time: 3-5 hours

Rain, rocks, Plateau Mountain

A strenuous four mile trek to climb Plateau Mountain, one of the Catskill 3500 peaks.

Parking: 42.143324, -74.157906 583 Mink Hollow Rd, Elka Park, NY 12427
Miles: 4 +/- 
Hours: 3 hours in the rain, faster in dry conditions I'm sure.

Overnight & Bushwhack to 3 Summits

Not many people summit these 3 peaks in 1 hike.  I did!

Parking: 42.023863, -74.599799 Balsam Lake Mountain Trailhead, Hardenburgh, NY
Miles: 13-16 depending on route
Hours: 9-11

North Dome & Mt. Sherrill: Hunter-West Kill Wilderness

Venture off trail and bushwhack your way through the mountain wilderness to these two Catskill 3500 peaks.

Parking: 42.191882, -74.325538 Devil's Path West Terminus, Spruceton Rd., West Kill, NY
Miles: 9-10 (My Fitbit had my at 12+ though)
Hours: 7-9

Sugarloaf Mountain Loop

A great way to break my hiking hiatus; an awesome trek, difficult for the less experienced.

Parking:  42.150949, -74.131138 Roaring Kill Trailhead, Elka Park, NY

Mileage: 7

Time: 4-6 hours

Bearpen and Vly Mountains

I took the long route on this round-trip hike covering 2 peaks, 12 miles and over 3,500' of elevation gain.

Parking: 42.284039, -74.461473 Heisinger Rd, Prattsville, NY 12468, USA
Miles: 11.5-12
Hours: 5-8

Bushwhack to Rusk Mountain

No trail?  No problem.  Using only a compass and GPS, navigate to the summit of Rusk Mountain at 3,680' in the Catskills region.

West Kill Mountain and the Devil's Path, as seen from the slopes of Rusk Mountain

Parking: 42.184158,-74.272180 Spruceton Rd, West Kill, NY
Miles: 3.5-4
Hours: 2.5

Primitive Campsites: Allaben, NY

Known to a few, this free primitive campsite is just off Route 28 and offers a convenient camping rest stop for a weekend excursion in the Catskills.

Location: 42.106872,-74.351713 Route 28, Allaben, NY (just west of Phoenicia, NY)
Map: NYNJTC #142 and the western edge of map #141

Catskills 3500: 3-Peak Loop

Conquer fifteen miles and 3 peaks over 3500' while getting a taste of the Devil's Path.

Parking: 42.184158,-74.272180 Spruceton Rd, West Kill, NY 
Miles: 15
Hours: 8-10

Seager Trailhead: Eagle and Big Indian

Although there are no views, this hike is a fun trek in the woods.

Parking: 42.058810, -74.540466 End of Dry Brook Rd, Arkville, NY
Miles: 10.5-11
Hours: 5-7

Table and Peekamoose Mountains with a post hike swim

An easy to moderate out and back covering 2 Catskills 3500 peaks.  Afterwards, take a dip in the ice cold waters of the Peekamoose Blue Hole.

Parking: 41.914922,-74.429044 Peekamoose Trailhead parking.  There are 3 other lots after this one, but this is the one in which the trail begins.
Miles: 9.5
Hours: 5-6

Catskill Winter Peaks: Blackhead Mountain

As one of the required climbs for the Catskills 3500 club, Blackhead Mountain is the 5th tallest peak at 3,940'.

Parking: 42.252352,-74.053678 End of Stork's Nest Rd., Round Top, NY

Miles: 9.5-10

Hours: 8-10

Black Dome Range

Summit 3 Catskills 3500 peaks on this wicked out and back hike.

Parking: 42.289045,-74.115314 End of Big Hollow Rd, Maplecrest, NY
Miles: 8-12 depending on route
Hours: 7-9 depending on route

Wittenberg & Cornell

Bag 2 Catskills 3500 peaks with an overnight stay at Terrace Mountain

Parking: Woodland Valley State Campground 959 Woodland Valley Rd, Phoenicia, NY.  A $6 daily fee is required to park here
Miles: 11-12
Hours: 6-8 or overnight

Giant Ledge & Panther Mountain

One of the best hikes in the Catskill region with outstanding views.

Parking: Route 47/Oliverea Rd, Phoenicia, NY – Giant Ledge Trailhead parking
Miles: 6.8
Hours: 6 - 8

You can do this as a quick overnight or a day hike.