Kaaterskill H.P. 6/30/07 Part 1 of 2

[kmorgan]

June 30, 2007: Kaaterskill High Peak Trip Report
(Or "How Not to Bushwhack a 35'er")

This looked to be a perfect hiking day: Low humidity, cool temperatures, and a layer of fluffy white cumulus clouds floating like cotton candy in a perfect blue sky. Ah, to be outdoors on a day like this is to define why we do what we do.
Our group consisted of me, Paula, Sue and Micheline from the "LI-ADK 3500 Perspirants". We began our day by the ceremonial meeting at exit 32 off the Long Island Expressway at 5:30 a.m. When planning a hike, I always like to meet earlier than necessary to allow and latecomers to have a buffer. This proved wise, as one of our group was under the impression that we were to meet at 6:30. Fortunately she lived very close by and we were all packed and on the road by 6 a.m.

Our plans had been flexible with several options depending on who showed up and how everyone was feeling that morning. Micheline was still recovering from a broken ankle suffered the previous season, so the decision was made to all hike from the Long Path trail head on Platte Clove Rd. for a "out and back" hike.

The trail follows a snowmobile trail for most of the way and as such is very wide and easy to follow. The grade is an easy one and we felt no effort on the initial 3-1/2 miles in. We took a leisurely pace and occasionally checked our progress on the map. This also allowed me to instruct those without practice in the skills of map reading and navigation. I feel it's important to note here that I have absolutely no natural sense of direction whatsoever. If I am not paying absolute rigid attention to what I'm doing I will invariably choose the wrong way to go, and not just occasionally, we talking every time! I am so predictable that I gave myself the trail name "Wrongway" many years ago and keep proving it to this day. Despite maps, compasses and a GPS, if the trail isn't marked like a supermarket aisle I'll make a wrong turn or get off the trail. This has caused me constantly practice my map and compass skills and to be constantly checking myself on the trail in order to keep any mistakes from becoming too great.

At one point a comment was made that they really didn't need to worry about map and compass skills because they had me. I pointed out that should we become separated or if I should be sick or injured, then one or more of them may be called upon to go for help. These words would prove to be prophetic!
When we reached 3000' we came upon some large (over 7") tracks in the mud. None of us being experienced outdoors types assumed they were the tracks of a large black bear we had read about earlier in the week on a Views From The Top (VFTT) trip report. I took some pictures, including one with a dollar bill next to a print for scale.

As we were hiking and looking at the map there was also some discussion about doing some bushwhacking in order to shorten part of the hike. It had been pointed out that when we took the trail that crossed the summit a small bushwhack was still required in order to reach the true summit.
We finally reached the junction where the Long Path turns 90 degrees to the right towards Palenville and Poet's Ledge and turned left to climb to the loop snowmobile trail. Here's where the old "Wrongway" kicks in. Instead of turning right at the loop trail in order to reach the summit trail, I turned left. After 2 tenths of a mile it was obvious I had turned the wrong way, and so I asked if the group wanted to turn back and find the proper trail or bushwhack from where we stood. "Bushwhack", came the reply, and so bushwhack we did! I took a compass heading off the map, picked out a route through the trees-aiming for a prominent and large birch up a ways, and took off into the brush.

It became immediately obvious that we were going to have to proceed with care. The ground was a meshwork of roots covered by pine needles and detritus. Care was needed to ensure that our steps were supported by the underlying roots so as not to punch through and risk an ankle injury or worse.
But this was bushwhacking so we knew our progress would be slow. Soon the climb began to increase in steepness. Many of the rock formations were brittle with chunks and slabs showing signs of recent detachment. Many a hand hold proved too weak to use and much of the rock was covered in pine needle mulch that was all too willing to slough off at the slightest touch.
We were taking our time and making sure to stay close together so that we remained within sight of each other, the green, tangled mass of mountain maple obscured our line-of-sight to each other in as little as 10 feet.
At one point I was looking at what appeared to be an un-climbable outcrop of rock about 15 feet tall and 8 or 10 feet wide. After studying my options I informed Paula, who was immediately behind me, that I was going around to the left side where I thought there might be a route up past it. Paula thought the other way might provide passage and said she was going to check out that side.

I had to do some tricky traversing and straddling of the trees growing out of the mountain's side to reach a 6-inch wide ledge of pine needles and roots. I tested the ledge with some weight and a little poking with my hiking poles and it proved substantial enough to support my movement across to an inside corner where I thought I could get up. The only hand hold visible was a layered face where a half-inch "plate" had dropped out. I jammed the fingers of my right hand into the opening and was able to flex them and get a good grip. I pulled myself up while pushing off with one leg and reached for a sapling with my left hand. With my left foot I scraped away some of debris on the rock and found a small depression to use as a foot hold. As I started up higher the sapling in my left hand turned out to be very shallowly rooted and pulled out. I slid along the face of the rock and when I encountered the ledge I had used to get into position it proved to be just as tenuous and broke free. Somehow I didn't follow the ledge down, but now I also knew I was in some trouble. Not stranded on the summit of K2 trouble, but trouble nonetheless.
I called back to Paula that I had climbed myself into a corner and had to find another way up. Paula called back and said that Sue was going to take a break to eat something. I looked around and saw a route that I thought would allow me to traverse around the rocks that were currently impeding my progress. The scariest part of the route required me to hold on to a protrusion of rock that didn't feel all too sturdy-picture an oblong boulder about 2-1/2 feet wide and 12 inches tall, but looking like part of the rock face-and swing out and around in order to get hold of a small birch tree growing nearby. I tested the rock by pounding on it from behind with a fist. It sounded a little hollow but seemed sturdy. If not, I was going to fall with this boulder held securely in my arms across my chest! Once around this obstacle I had to crawl on my belly under a small shelf of rock and was finally able to force my way up and suddenly I found myself on top.

continued....

 

[kmorgan]

Part 2 of 2

Due to the steepness and slipperiness of the pine needle cover there was no way I could have gone back down from the position. I called out to Paula and the others, "How's it going down there?", but got no reply. I tried several more times and even resorted to using my whistle. Nothing! The yells I could understand, but I was blowing my signal whistle through cupped hands and still getting no replies. I began working my way back across the summit to try to make contact with them but to no avail. None of my calls were answered.
I remembered Micheline making the comment that she had a cell phone signal in the trail head parking lot and so I got my phone out and tried to get a signal, hoping that they would think to do the same. No signal! I crossed the summit and followed the trail to the south side hoping to find a signal but it was useless. I left my phone on and headed back to the summit. After trying some more calls and whistles I thought maybe they had turned back to the snowmobile road and where going to try the regular summit trail up. I began descending the summit trail, all the while stopping ever few minutes in my vain attempts to reconnect.

On the way down I encountered several parties ascending to the summit. I asked each if they'd seen 3 women on the trail below, each answered in the negative. I asked if they'd heard my calls and whistle blows: they had not. The last couple I came upon told me there were several backpacks stacked up at the junction of the Long Path and snowmobile trails. Alas, when I arrived at the junction the packs were not theirs. I was now becoming quite worried. One of the things we had never discussed was what we would do if we were to become separated. I stayed a while longer at the junction, signaling repeatedly, and finally thought they might have gone back to the trail head to wait by the cars.

It was 3:05 p.m. and 3-1/2 miles back to the cars. I decided to head back to the cars and if they weren't there I'd decide what to do. I kept up my calls and whistles for the entire way back, never receiving a reply. In some of the mud on the trail I noticed some small boot prints going back down the trail and hoped it was from one of them.

I arrived back at the cars at exactly 4:05 p.m. and the moment I stepped of the trail my cell phone connected to the network and alerted me to several voice mails. Well, they weren't at the cars but at least I could call them. I dialed Micheline's number and she answered right away. It turns out that they were experiencing much the same as I was. They were calling and blowing their whistles and getting no response. They had finally been able to reach the summit some time after I did, and not being able to find me they decided to have lunch. Micheline told me they had run into some other groups, no one who had seen me, but they now knew where the summit trail was and were descending. They asked me how long it took me to get down and I told them an hour. They said they would probably need a little more time than that, but that they were on their way down.

I figured if they took their time they should be down by 4:35 or so, so at 5 p.m. I was starting to get antsy. I tried to call them again but Micheline's phone went right to voicemail. At 6 p.m. I was beginning to thing they had gotten lost, though I didn't see how on such an easy trail to follow. At 6:30 I was thinking I was going to have to put my gear on and go looking for them, but a phone call with my wife convinced me I'd be better off staying at the car where I at least had cell phone service and could call for help if and when necessary. At 6:45 hikers started coming down off the trail. None had seen the group of 3, though most were returning from Huckleberry Point and had not gone up to High Peak.

They finally arrived at 7 p.m. and I was able to breathe again. We got packed up headed for home. I got to my house, after dropping off Micheline and Sue, at 10:30 p.m. I ate a cold dinner, took a shower, and got into bed.

Pictures here

 

[Mark Schaefer]

Kevin, quite a report. Glad everybody made it out OK before the chilly night. The trails on KHP can be difficult to negotiate, and it is very easy to miss a turn. The whacking can also be slippery and steep as you found. But you got to see the "other" plane wreck in the process. Nice pictures as usual.