MattC
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- Sep 2, 2004
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As did Coldfeet, I bagged my first Catskill winter peak this weekend. I climbed Balsam on 12/24, giving myself an early X-mas present. Went in from Rider Hollow and took the Oliverea-Mapledale Trail to the ridge, then over the summit on the PH/WB Trail and back down Mine Hollow. Almost no snow, just a light dusting at the summit. A little ice, mostly on the north face, and easy to avoid. Lots of blowdown-some looked fresh from the previous night's rainstorm. Mostly small limbs and branches, but also one massive conifer (think it was a hemlock) about a mile up the O-M Trail. All together there were probably 5 or 6 blowdowns that required going off-trail. The O-M Trail right before the junction w/ Mine Hollow was poorly drained, and wet w/ a thin layer of ice.
Probably the biggest challenge of the hike was the first stream crossing. The streams were going pretty good due to all the rain, and I couldn't find a suitable spot to rock-hop, so I straddled a fallen tree and shimmied over. It was pretty icy and I didn't trust my balance enough to walk on it, but it was also a challenge keeping my boots high enough to avoid getting them wet. This crossing might be avoided by bushwhacking along the stream for a while, but the trail on the other side was ascending away from the stream, so there would probably be a sharp ascent after the bushwhack. There were a few other stream crossings after this first one, each easier than the last as the stream narrowed.
I was in two layers and glove liners for most of the ascent, but it was cold and windy at the lookout, and from there until about a half-mile down the north face I was up to five layers and mitts. The hemlock grove in Mine Hollow is absolutely beautiful and I lingered there for awhile and had a snack. There's a great spot to sit on the trail w/ your legs hanging down the hillside looking over at the hemlocks and down at the stream. The dark hemlock grove is constrasted by a sunny, hardwood-dominated area on the other side of the notch. Vintage Catskills.
The whole hike took about 3 hour and change. The lack of snow made it feel like a fall hike, just colder. Cleaned up about a half-dozen beer cans towards the end of the hike. Heads up for anyone thinking of doing this route once there's snow-Rider Hollow Road is unpaved and narrow at points. Also, Fleischmann Heights Road is a seasonal, unpaved road, and very steep, although there are other ways to get in from Route 28. Probably best to take a 4X4 if going to this trailhead after winter really hits.
P.S. Ever notice that littered beer cans are always stuff like Bud and Coors Light and never really good beer like Guinness or something? Just an observation.
Probably the biggest challenge of the hike was the first stream crossing. The streams were going pretty good due to all the rain, and I couldn't find a suitable spot to rock-hop, so I straddled a fallen tree and shimmied over. It was pretty icy and I didn't trust my balance enough to walk on it, but it was also a challenge keeping my boots high enough to avoid getting them wet. This crossing might be avoided by bushwhacking along the stream for a while, but the trail on the other side was ascending away from the stream, so there would probably be a sharp ascent after the bushwhack. There were a few other stream crossings after this first one, each easier than the last as the stream narrowed.
I was in two layers and glove liners for most of the ascent, but it was cold and windy at the lookout, and from there until about a half-mile down the north face I was up to five layers and mitts. The hemlock grove in Mine Hollow is absolutely beautiful and I lingered there for awhile and had a snack. There's a great spot to sit on the trail w/ your legs hanging down the hillside looking over at the hemlocks and down at the stream. The dark hemlock grove is constrasted by a sunny, hardwood-dominated area on the other side of the notch. Vintage Catskills.
The whole hike took about 3 hour and change. The lack of snow made it feel like a fall hike, just colder. Cleaned up about a half-dozen beer cans towards the end of the hike. Heads up for anyone thinking of doing this route once there's snow-Rider Hollow Road is unpaved and narrow at points. Also, Fleischmann Heights Road is a seasonal, unpaved road, and very steep, although there are other ways to get in from Route 28. Probably best to take a 4X4 if going to this trailhead after winter really hits.
P.S. Ever notice that littered beer cans are always stuff like Bud and Coors Light and never really good beer like Guinness or something? Just an observation.
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