Kaaterskill HP Attempt

[MattC]

I experienced my 1st "turn-around" today, which is probably a good thing. Myself and four others (mostly not VFTTers) attempted Kaaterskill High Peak.
The first unusual thing was a strange, but friendly dog which followed us up from the trail-head. It was sort of funny at first, but he just would not go back, and he ended up staying with us all day. It was a piece of cake for the most part until the real ascent. The Long Path section was well-packed by snowmobiles, and we bushwhacked a bit through a little gully as a shortcut over to the trail which loops around KHP and Round Top. We had some through-bare-trees-and-mist views of Indian Head, Twin and Sugarloaf from the flat area. Still our canine friend hung in there. I was worried because he was shivering a bit. We also had fed him a bit at this point. This may not have been smart since now he really liked staying with us, but by the time we fed him, he had showed no sign of going back anyway. At least now he had some calories in him.

We missed the blue summit trail and ended up just climbing the slope in another place. It was extremely steep but we did pretty well and negotiated a couple of medium-sized ledge areas. Our "mascot" was holding up admirably. We found our way back to the blue trail and continued up until we came to the really steep area just below Hurricane Ledge. Between the steepness of the grade and the two feet of snow, the crust came up to a point too high to lift a foot up onto. It wouldn't have given much purchase anyway. I proceeded to dig for a while, but there wasn't even enough ice on the rock for crampons. Nor were there any handholds. I really didn't want to give up since we were so close, but there just didn't seem to be a way to go further.

Fortunately, Laurie had some rope which helped me get back down from this spot I had gotten myself into. I laughed as I remembered the dog, and realized that there was no way he could have gotten over this slope, even if we somehow could have. Laurie named him Hurricane for the rest of the hike, which we all agreed was fitting. The way back was fun and pretty uneventful. We stopped briefly at the plane wreck site on the snowmobile loop and basically just enjoyed a casual pace back.

Back at the cars it was food-time. Two of our group had intended to finish their winter 35, but the failure to reach the summit didn't stop us from digging into the celebration chow! Two pies, cheesecake and chocolate strawberries. Fuggetaboudit.

Our canine friend gladly accepted some more food but wouldn't take any water which I thought was strange. He was definitely clean and fit enough that he must have lived nearby, but he stayed at the parking lot after we left. We didn't know what else to do with him since his tag only had his vets name and not the owners name or number. Any thoughts on this? Maybe we should have tried harder to shoo him back right at the outset of the hike.

Matt

 

[TMax]

Was the dog a chocolate lab? I had one follow me last summer on that same hike, but he took off as soon as we got back to the trailhead. You could call the vet, describe the dog and maybe they can figure out who the owner is and them them know where the was seen if it's lost. Sorry to hear you missed your 35th, but it sounds like it was a great day anyway!

 

[MattC]

Sounds like a lot of dogs hang around that lot! There are several houses nearby, plus the Catskill Bruderhoff (although I don't know if they keep pets).
It wasn't a chocolate lab. It was some kind of mutt, I'm not sure what breeds. It looked quite "well-fed" (although not flabby) and it had a very neat, healthy coat of reddish-brown fur. We thought about calling the vet but it was Sunday afternoon and didn't think it'd do much good. Come to think of it, we could have written the # down and called when we got home, just in case. Oh well.

As for #35-it actually wasn't me. I still need one more just for the basic 3500 Club requirements, but not KHP. Two of the women in our group were trying to finish their Winter 35-they started to make plans on the way back, and may go mid-week. In hindsight, we may have done better on the north approach to KHP. I know there's some rough stuff over there too, but I can't imagine it'd be worse than what we found below Hurricane Ledge.

It was still a really fun day, and a great learning experience. Lots of smiles and laughs and no broken bones, hypothermia or frostbite-goal accomplished.

Matt

 

[Rivet]

The first unusual thing was a strange, but friendly dog which followed us up from the trail-head. It was sort of funny at first, but he just would not go back, and he ended up staying with us all day.

Hmmm... this must be the mountain for losing dogs. Last spring, I lost my beagle on this hike. I had forgotten his leash, but thought he would be ok. When we reached the ridge and started the short bushwack west up to the snow mobile loop, he picked up a scent and took off. Tried to catch him, but couldn't. Ending up back at the junction where the trail splits off for Huckleberry point. Left a "lost dog" note at the sign post. The dog also had an ID tag with phone number and address. I wandered around the forest again trying to pinpoint his sporadic howling. After a while, I gave up and headed back to the trailhead. Left a note in the register. Then, sat and waited. A short while later a couple emerged with my dog using a strap as a leash. They had been to Huckleberry Point and found him there running around. I offered them a reward, but they didn't want it.

Lesson learned ... never let beagle off the leash in the woods.

 

[Jay H]

The only time I've done KHP was from the north, parked behind a restaurant in Palenville after asking permission and hiked in past the three waterfalls (very dry since it was a dry spring). Got caught in a massive thunderstorm on the way down and had to really highball it out of there. I remember the snowmobile trails being completely underwater til the short marked trail that leads to the summit turned off.

I've had a couple of dogs follow me hiking, not necessarily in the catskills but some of them were the big dark and mean looking kinds and you're left to wonder its disposition!

I need KHP for my Winter 35 but looks like my winter hiking is over til next time

Jay

 

[mudhook51]

I soloed up KHP earlier this winter from PlatteClove,bushwacking between the trails and using the north approach, which is much safer than the Hurricane ledge side. I walked down to the ledges thinking I could return that way, but decided it was a better place for lunch(the second most important meal of the day) than desending alone in the winter. Good choice on turning around.
Jim

 

[ajtiv]

Matt I need KHP for my winter 35 so if in the next two weekends you are going back I could help break trail
I have 8 more to do in the next two weekends
Three of which are Friday, BC and Rocky that should be one long day
Al

 

[MattC]

Rivet-Glad you got your beagle back-he looks like a nice dog. BTW, Albany's my hometown, and I'm considering affiliating w/ the ADK Chapter (I'm a member of Mid-Hudson) when I finally get seriously into the ADKs.

Jay-I believe the snowmobile trail is generally swampy throughout three-season. The whole area is very poorly drained. Interesting to note that it was still so wet even though it was a relatively dry spring when you were there.

Mudhook-Hurricane Ledge may be the ultimate Catskill lunch spot. It couldn't be any more lunch-friendly if there was a deli up there. Maybe that's why I was so frustrated to not be able to get up there-I was really hungry!

And as for Al... sounds like you've got some hiking to do! To be honest, my peakbagging demon is a bit more under control right now. I really think not getting KHP summit was good for me. For the rest of calendar winter, I'll probably just kind of coast. I'm going to kind of watch what everyone else is after (you, Freddy, Catskill Climber, etc.) and go from there. My only real "must-do" for the next few weeks is, well, you know...

Matt

 

[funkyfreddy]

Matt, sometime I'll have to show you the shortcut to KHP that a Catskill guide book author showed me many years ago. I would have liked to have seen that area all covered with snow as i've never been up there in winter, only in spring and fall.

 

[ajtiv]

OK Freddy you can show me the shortcut also.
I hiked KHP after a quick run up and down WHP.
I came around on the snowmobile trail to the north of the mountain and
after the turn off for a second snowmobile trail I started looking for any sign of the left turn off toward the peak that I followed up in the summer.
No Luck found nothing and wasted almost a 1/2 hour searching
Decided I would just break trail and go up where I remember heading off last time.
Came up the ridge on the north side starting off going up some steep sections
and hit the plateau. I followed this slow rise to the top and in a 1/4 mile hit some thick spruce, I pushed through continuing going directly toward the summit in as straight line as possible.
After an hour of thrashing around up there came to a small clearing and made a determination this was the summit since there was no ground higher after the hour of roaming.
I came down toward the ledges and was it tough navigating down but I cut 2 miles off the circumnavigation around the mountain spent at least as much time getting down though
Total time 5.5 hours 3 hours longer than the summer.
So a shortcut would be great.
Fred happy hiking and finishing your 35.
With any luck I will finish my W35 Saturday but still have a lot to do in two days.
Al