Catskills Peak Bagging part 2

[Mark Schaefer]

There are bears throughout this range. I have seen them several times in Mink Hollow, and also on St. Anne's Peak (W Westkill), Westkill, Leavitt Peak (SW Hunter), Hunter, and Rusk. The swamp in Mink Hollow is a favorite water hole for them with numerous berries, nuts, and acorns nearby. With all the warm weather they have been wandering around a lot this winter.

Bears can run faster uphill than downhill. In either case you can never outrun a bear. But in the Catskills it is not really a problem. They will always run from you, assuming you don't get between a mother and cub.

 

[Doodles]

Matabobo definitly did take some pictures of the bear tracks. I did not see pictures of the tracks on his site, but if he reads this maybe he can post them. Pleeeeease.

 

[Zer0-G]

There is one other thing, last year when I climbed Bearpen and Vly, I was near the parking area. Just about to start. My car was in the big clearing just near the start of the trailhead/logging road. This guy who owns the land was happening by and he asked me to move my car back to near where the yellow rope is by the pond. (You'll see it. It is on the left before the big clearing as you approach the end of the road).
They use the clearing to park their snowplows, and larger trucks etc. They appreciate it if you don't park there.