4 catskill peaks, 2 days, 2 sore knees!

[coldfeet]

I learned many things this holiday weekend.

1. I really don't like going solo (tried again and it's not for me) I hiked Peekamoose and Table, beautiful day and chilly. Wasn't to sure that i hit the peaks because ther weren't any signs but took pictures to confirm the area if I did indeed hit them.

2. A 40 lb backpack is hard to carry for 2 miles to a lean to after hiking 9 miles. So I ditched the 6lb firestarter log and poured out 2 of my 5 litters of water (I know, don't ask). Also lost my 2oz of toilet paper , which i picked up on the way back.

3. I hiked my first real bushwack up to Doubletop from the Biscuit Brook lean to with fellow VFTT'ers and then over to Big Indian, I think it took 7 1/2 hours to complete, I had to put my backpack back on to hike out the last 2 miles. The last 1/2 mile was pretty (no totally) dark, my headlight su*ks!...It doesn't produce a fine sharp beam. LUCKILY I met 2 people on the way out. He is a fire marshall and is the cartaker of a fire tower (Laurie's father's) , plus I think he is with the SAR, he had a radio going. His headlight was great, his female partner was also an almost 35er. We made it back to the cars app 5:45.

4. I learned, for me, not to go solo anymore. Leave the lean to earlier instead of hitting 1 more peak (only took 1/2 hour more, but to late in the end of the day)..Time for a really good headlight, never bring a 6lb firelog, keep the toilet paper zipped up. Oh yea, my boots were soaked for the first time in my short career, think the rubber along the edge opened up, used a plastic baggie but it was tough. Go lighter on 5-6lb tent. And if I want to really enjoy the outdoors, I think I have to limit my 2 day hikes in milage.

5. Thx to all those who allowed me to sweep for most of the way. I wanted to make sure nobody was dragging and left behind. ....David

ps...I'll leave the technical info to the experienced ones..thx a million for allowing me to hang out with you folks!

 

[lx93]

Snowshoes?

Did you have them? If not, was there enough snow that they would have helped?

 

[TMax]

5. Thx to all those who allowed me to sweep for most of the way. I wanted to make sure nobody was dragging and left behind. ....David

Thanks for filling in this valuable service...need someone to keep me moving ahead !

It was great hanging out with you. Saw that the TP was gone when I walked out this morning...looked for the log but couldn't find it. Did you grab that as well?

How's the knee?

 

[coldfeet]

Hi TMax

It was still light when i spotted the paper then all of a sudden it just went dark, my pace slowed down to a crawl, if the other guy didn't have that Black Diamond headlight I would still be searching for the markers. I did look for the log but I couldn't find it. I'm sorry and I apologize to the group that does trail maintence.

My knee was so tight that I could hardly walk when i got out of the car, it felt better this am but now it hurts. I hope i didn't overdue it. It was an experience that I won't forget.

 

[coldfeet]

lx93..sorry I forgot ..no snowshoes needed but an old pair of spiked golf shoes would have been nice trying to keep a foot on the slopes.

 

[Jay H]

lx93: The catskills had a dusting of snow on Thursday night but the snow from a few weeks ago has all but melted, due to the various warm weeks and some 70deg+ weekends in the valleys, where the summits were still probably 50deg+.

But the trails and peaks were pretty wet, including the first 1/2 mile of the Biscuit Brook trail from CR47!

Hey David, did you find the duraflame log on the way out? I tried to look where I saw your TP but didn't find anything....

Ralph, Matt, Terri, did any of you find it?

David, it was a very fun time to finally hike with you, I'm glad you came out and enjoyed a nice bushwack and a very nice weekend to hike. It is all a learning process, to me, to everybody else there, so we are always learning!

Jay

 

[MattC]

I was on the summit of Slide today and there were only little traces of snow here and there. It looks like the Catskills have reverted back to normal fall conditions.

David, live and learn. I learned this weekend that it's not worth bushwhacking along the side of a creek gorge through scrub beech and blowdown just to avoid a slightly dicey brook crossing. (Or is it? ) I also learned that it's a good idea to have some fat in your dinner before turning in on a cold night. Hope the knee is okay.

Matt

 

[daxs]

Dave, you did just fine on the Doubletop-Big Indian hikes. You have nothing to apologize about. I consider myself an experienced hiker and still learn something useful just about every hike. I expect you will be joining us on our next foray into the catskills. I'm glad you made it out safe. I hope you are chillin out with a bag of ice on your knee.

 

[ajtiv]

David we hung out before but I think this is actually the first hike I did with you. You did great it was a good hike Saturday. You also would have been better off resting Saturday night instead of backpacking out after the hike but I know there are comitments to be kept.
As long as you keep learning you will be fine when you stop learning its time to worry
We will do this again, I know you have a lot of winter gear to use.
hope the knees feel better.
Al

 

[John S]

David, it may have been a bit of work to get up to the lean-to but after Peekamoose and Table, Friday was a pretty productive day. Saturday was a good workout, too!

It was good hiking with you again. Well, sort of.... so far we’ve seen eight-foot visibility on a summit with eighty-mile views and a blue-sky day on a viewless, bushwhack summit. Let's hang in there - someday we’ll have a perfect day.

 

[coldfeet]

Thx

Hi guys, thx for invite!...It was fun...Like Governor Schwartzenager said "I'll Be Back!"...

Al- How long was the trip on Sat?

Gotta go to work..bye!