porky
New member
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2003
- Messages
- 98
- Reaction score
- 4
Our group of four climbed Friday's eastern ridge from the start of the herd path on the public end of Moon Haw Road. There are no trails along this route and the herd paths are sketchy to nonexistent at times, but route finding is simple due to the obvious topography. For exercise and amusement, we stuck largely to the ridge-top on the ascent, and did a little rock scrambling along the way. If one stays to the south of the ridge (as we did on the descent), this scrambling can be avoided and the route becomes a class 2 walk. Blow-down and brush was about average for the area. The passage through the spruce-filled saddle from Friday to Balsam Cap was no worse than usual, as long as we were careful to remain in the clear leads. The ground was mostly firm and dry everywhere, although patches of snow and ice remain in places above 3000'. There is certainly no longer any need for crampons or snowshoes, and there are no water crossings along this route. The black flies were fierce, especially as the day wore into afternoon, but this is to be expected in the Catskills in May.
porky pine
porky pine
