Blackheads, no dogs, and bicycles!

[halia and flammeus]

What with all the hoopla about shrinking our carbon footprint and whatnot, Flammeus and I agonized over this weekend's hike. Driving TWO vehicles up to the Blackhead range was just beyond what I could stomach. But I really wanted to go... those hills were calling to me.

We left the dogs at home to babysit the teenagers who refused to join us. We tossed the bicycles onto the back of the ultra fuel efficient car, and off we went. We left the bikes at Big Hollow parking area, and drove to Barnum Rd. Gulp. We didn't realize Barnum Rd. was so steep. Ooooh boy.

The hike was just everything great that hiking could be... pleasantly warm, not too buggy, nice breeze. Heading up Camel's Hump I saw my first blue cohosh - very cool. Also saw lots of gorgeous other spring wildflowers - trillium, trout lilies, jack in the pulpit, jack in trousers, rock cress, spring beauties... it was quite a variety and lots of bloom.

The top of camel's hump is really a cool ecosystem - dry and rocky, and open. Very nice.. Does anyone know - is there opuntia growing up there? I didn't see any from the trail, but we were boogeying.

Nice mellow ascent up Tom Cole. Only we thought camel's hump was tom cole... so we were a little disoriented and bummed when we realized where we were... and how much farther we had to go. No views to speak of off Cole - the trees have grown up too much. We pressed on.

The summit at Black Dome was a rockin' hotspot. A bunch of people were there and more showed up. We ate lunch and chatted about bushwhacking and bugs and the weight of water (and beer). It was warm, sunny, breathtaking views - fire towers on Overlook and Hunter easily visible with the naked eye. It was soooo relaxing to just sit and look at all that. Flammeus says it is the most relaxed he's seen me.

Off to Blackhead. The descent down Black Dome from the Blackhead side is tough - it was hot and dry and steep. We saw lots of unhappy backpackers coming up. The ascent up Blackhead was also hot and dry and steep. We reached the summit and Flammeus (showing signs of old age or dehydration) thought we had "one more to go." I just led him down carefully. We attempted and failed to make it up BLackhead last winter (snowshoes were not enough. Duh.) and got a much clearer sense of awe at this mountains trails. Holy cow it is a challenging hike.

We cooled our feet in the Batavia Kill downstream of the leanto, and, totally refreshed, made it to the parking area with a spring in our step.

The bike ride was so nice down through the valley - 4 miles to Maplecrest, barely any pedalling. It was wierd to ride after all that hiking, but it felt great. Until we had to head up to Barnum Rd. Then it felt lousy, but it was blessedly brief. We walked the bikes up to the stop sign and then hopped back on and rode to the car. Yippee.

We celebrated with Boysenberry and Mango sorbet at the Black Bear Hollow Cafe! And - get this - I even got cell service at the Barnum Rd. parking area. It was a fabulous day in the woods. The BLackheads rock.

I wish we could post bikes more often!

 

[Trudy]

Nice.
Hiking and using bike shuttles is a great way to go.

 

[Mark Schaefer]

The top of camel's hump is really a cool ecosystem - dry and rocky, and open. Very nice.. Does anyone know - is there opuntia growing up there? I didn't see any from the trail, but we were boogeying.

I have poked around a bit several times. To my knowledge there is no eastern prickly pear nor any other cacti there. Nor does Dr. Kudish mention it in his book, and he likely would have if it was present.

The Hump is a neat place with an unusually thin top soil from glacial scraping. Dr. Kudish has found no indication that the area has ever burned since the last ice age. However, the vegetation is now growing taller. The once 360 degree view which was present as late as the 1970s is now growing in.

The bike ride was so nice down through the valley - 4 miles to Maplecrest, barely any pedalling. It was wierd to ride after all that hiking, but it felt great. Until we had to head up to Barnum Rd. Then it felt lousy, but it was blessedly brief. We walked the bikes up to the stop sign and then hopped back on and rode to the car. Yippee.

Yes, that hill is a doozy. I have never biked it, but I have walked up a couple of times making a day loop out of the Blackheads and Windham High Peak. The third time I did the loop I wisely reversed the circuit. The climb up Peck Road is not nearly so steep.

 

[Tom Rankin]

Way to go guys! The 'teens' missed it!

Must have been really clear to see Overlook, wow!

We did this hike last Fall just before it got snowy. There were 2 cars and 5 humans, is that ok ? :eek

 

[halia and flammeus]

Hi again -

The opuntia question was partly because I'd seen it on top of Hook Mountain in Nyack last time I was there, and on top of Anthony's Nose. It seemed like a potentially comparable soil, exposure, vegetation combination up on Camel's Hump. Maybe too far north?

Does the NY-NJ trail conf map refer to Camel's Hump as Caudal?

Posting the bikes gained us a decent bit of fame on the trail. Most responses were along the lines of "Holy [bleep]! You guys are crazy." But we had a blast. We were tired but it was that "good tired" of a well-used body by the end of the day. Flammeus turned 50 a few weeks ago - it is so cool that he can kick lazy teenage butt (so to speak) on a regular basis. I think we might shame our kids into upping their game!

So how to post bikes when we do the Burroughs range???? Or maybe the next trick is riding the bikes holding the dogs on leashes?

 

[Mark Schaefer]

The opuntia question was partly because I'd seen it on top of Hook Mountain in Nyack last time I was there, and on top of Anthony's Nose. It seemed like a potentially comparable soil, exposure, vegetation combination up on Camel's Hump. Maybe too far north?

It is indeed similar. Perhaps too far north, too high (3540'), or a combination.

Does the NY-NJ trail conf map refer to Camel's Hump as Caudal?

The trail description on the back of the map mentions both. The 3320' Caudal (Camel's Tail) is the first high point at 2.25 miles into the trail. The 3540' Camel's Tail is the next high point at 2.95 miles. The map shows a viewpoint on the Caudal. I do not recall much of a view there. Maybe the asterisk for the view was meant to be on the Camel's Hump.

Perhaps someone once envisioned Thomas Cole and Black Dome also as humps with Blackhead as the Camel's head. That would make for an unusual three hump camel.

So how to post bikes when we do the Burroughs range???? Or maybe the next trick is riding the bikes holding the dogs on leashes?

That would be a long ride, but no doubt doable. Conceivably it might be faster to hike the return loop back to the Woodland Valley on the Phoenicia - East Branch Trail. At the north end of Winnisook Lake there is an easement on an old road shown on the NY/NJ maps. The easement is legal to hike and saves about 500' of climbing. Beyond the Giant Ledge trail junction the PE trail becomes a relatively steep downhill -- until a somewhat annoying climb over the lower portion of Fork Ridge. End of long day climbs are never fun.

 

[Jay H]

So how to post bikes when we do the Burroughs range???? Or maybe the next trick is riding the bikes holding the dogs on leashes?

Or if you can get the dogs to pull you.

You can do the Devil's path for the most part easily with bike spots, but the Burrough's range would be a much longer ride. Something that I would either do the bike first or bring lights and night riding gear with you...

Jay

 

[halia and flammeus]

Uhhh, once I did get a malamute to pull me on roller blades. That experience belongs on the other thread - the one about stupid things people do... it was on a rail trail. It was not good.

The Devil's Path is a great idea! I shoulda thoughta that! I love the Devil's Path (er... I don't want to know what that says about me!).

We won't do the Burroughs Range with bikes involved - knowing our limits... I know I couldn't do that. I am a happy hiker under dang near all conditions, but I am a crybaby biker. One little hill and my quads are screamin' and I'm ready to quit. Mark S.'s ideas about looping back are interesting... maybe that would work for us. The Burroughs Range are the only trailed peaks left for us on the way to the 35. Well, the BR and a return to Blackhead in the winter. Yes, we bought crampons.

Cool. Keep yer eyes peeled out there for bikers with backpacks