TMax
New member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 589
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- 85
Went for a stroll 
in the Catskills today. At the parking area on the Friedel property I left my note on the car (stating where I was hiking and when I was returning...this is a request of the property owner of anyone who parks there) and started off in spring-like temperatures. Decided to take crampons (thinking the ledges might be icy) but opted to leave snowshoes behind...Bad choice There was absolutely no snow on the ground until you gained some significant elevation. Less water running than I expected but very muddy in places. My usual approach to Friday is a straight-on assault right up the ledges. Thinking they might have ice that was quickly peeling off, I opted to head up to the col between Friday and Balsam Cap and then head over. Another bad choice! Started doing the posthole thing and then on the ridge the spruce traps emerged to try to swallow me up Even with all the warm temps and snowmelt, I was dropping in them up to my hips. The snow was so soft and soupy, I'm not even sure snowshoes would have helped, but I sure wish I had them to try! Made it to the cannister on Friday and then started over to Balam Cap. About the 700 hundredth snow dive up to my thighs/hips I decided to drop off the ridge and walk below the ledges. While better than the traps above, I was still potholing pretty good. I managed to eventually find the remnants of the snowshoe trail up Balsam Cap and footing here was much better, only the occassional posthole (I apologize to anyone who takes that route before we get more snow and has to avoid my holes ). It took me over an hour-and-a-half to get from Friday to Balsam Cap . Wandered around briefly looking for the cannister, signed in and then headed down as the sky was getting quite dark. Shortly thereafter, the rain started coming down pretty hard. I stopped to put on rain gear but it didn't last long (just long enough to make things a little more interesting!). Wound up dropping off the mountain much further north than I wanted and adding some distance to the day. About a third of the way down it hailed for a few minutes. Winds blew pretty good all day with only the occassional burst of sunshine. But I never even needed gloves. Made it out with only moments to spare before needing to pull out my headlamp. Another safe and fun trek up Friday!
FOUND: The bottom two sections of a hiking pole. Found this on the south side of Friday probably about 400 feet below the summit. No identifying marks as to brand but distance is marked in cm only. PM me if you think it's yours. Also found the bottom section of another pole on the ridge between the two peaks. Unfortunately, the mountain Gods took it back from me on the way out.
in the Catskills today. At the parking area on the Friedel property I left my note on the car (stating where I was hiking and when I was returning...this is a request of the property owner of anyone who parks there) and started off in spring-like temperatures. Decided to take crampons (thinking the ledges might be icy) but opted to leave snowshoes behind...Bad choice There was absolutely no snow on the ground until you gained some significant elevation. Less water running than I expected but very muddy in places. My usual approach to Friday is a straight-on assault right up the ledges. Thinking they might have ice that was quickly peeling off, I opted to head up to the col between Friday and Balsam Cap and then head over. Another bad choice! Started doing the posthole thing and then on the ridge the spruce traps emerged to try to swallow me up Even with all the warm temps and snowmelt, I was dropping in them up to my hips. The snow was so soft and soupy, I'm not even sure snowshoes would have helped, but I sure wish I had them to try! Made it to the cannister on Friday and then started over to Balam Cap. About the 700 hundredth snow dive up to my thighs/hips I decided to drop off the ridge and walk below the ledges. While better than the traps above, I was still potholing pretty good. I managed to eventually find the remnants of the snowshoe trail up Balsam Cap and footing here was much better, only the occassional posthole (I apologize to anyone who takes that route before we get more snow and has to avoid my holes ). It took me over an hour-and-a-half to get from Friday to Balsam Cap . Wandered around briefly looking for the cannister, signed in and then headed down as the sky was getting quite dark. Shortly thereafter, the rain started coming down pretty hard. I stopped to put on rain gear but it didn't last long (just long enough to make things a little more interesting!). Wound up dropping off the mountain much further north than I wanted and adding some distance to the day. About a third of the way down it hailed for a few minutes. Winds blew pretty good all day with only the occassional burst of sunshine. But I never even needed gloves. Made it out with only moments to spare before needing to pull out my headlamp. Another safe and fun trek up Friday! FOUND: The bottom two sections of a hiking pole. Found this on the south side of Friday probably about 400 feet below the summit. No identifying marks as to brand but distance is marked in cm only. PM me if you think it's yours. Also found the bottom section of another pole on the ridge between the two peaks. Unfortunately, the mountain Gods took it back from me on the way out.
