mystery lean-tos

[gombagoom]

friends, I am on a quest to find a site my father, uncle and I used to go in the Catskills. I was about 7, so have no memory of exactly where it was. My old man is a little fuzzy as well, and my uncle has been no help either.

There were two lean-tos fairly close together. You would park, cross a stream over a wooden bridge, walk a little ways, cross another such bridge, and come in short order to the first lean-to, right alongside the stream (which was to the left of the lean-to as you looked uphill). I think there was an outhouse right nearby. The second lean-to was a short ways up the trail.

Recent research steered me to the McKinley Hollow trail off Route 47 near Oliverea, and I actually checked it out. I found one lean-to that COULD have been the SECOND from years ago, but there were no bridges over the stream. So, either that wasn't it, or the place has changed drastically in 25 years.

My father seems to recall the place was near Oliverea, but also Phoenicia and Big Indian...and Slide Mountain...he's useless!

Any tips would be appreciated!

-chris

 

[askus3]

Could it be on the other side of the ridge - Rider Hollow?

 

[Jay H]

Yes, there is also a stream that goes down towards Rider Hollow and a lean to on both sides (at McKenley and Rider Hollow). I know there is a steel bridge on the stream by Rider Hollow if you've parked there and I think I remember a stream on the left side of the leanto as you described. I don't remember precisely nor have I parked at Rider Hollow so I can't tell you about two bridges.

Could it be the old leanto on the Neversink on the way to Table? That leanto used to be right on the Neversink and there is a fairly big wooden bridge on the PE trail from Denning that you'd have to cross. And the Deer Shanty/Neversink too.

Jay

 

[askus3]

Jay, he said two lean-tos not two bridges, so that rules out the old Denning Shelter. There were never two shelters in that location. There was two shelters on top of Slide mountain before the 3500 foot no camping ruling went into effect. But they weren't near any stream. Rider Hollow has the steel bridge and that might stick out in a youngsters mind. I also think at one time there were two shelters there, but I am not sure.

 

[Puma concolor]

What about the area near the junction of the Denning-Woodland Valley Trail and the Table-Peekamoose Trail?? It's been awhile, but I seem to recall multiple lean-tos and an outhouse as well as a couple of stream crossings. It also meets the criteria of being near everywhere but not too close to anywhere.

Edit: OK, I'm a moron ... that's what Jay said. Also, the area as I read it said two lean-tos AND two bridges.

 

[Mark Schaefer]

I always like a good mystery. McKinley (originally McKenley) Hollow and perhaps Rider Hollow could match your description. Both had two lean-tos at one time, although only one lean-to remains in each. I believe McKinley best fits your recollection.

My oldest maps and guidebooks (early 1970s) mention only one lean-to in McKinley Hollow at 0.4 miles from the trailhead. Later maps and guidebooks mention two lean-tos at 0.4 and 0.65 miles from the trailhead. Current editions only mention the lean-to at 0.65 mile.

Michael Kudish in his book The Catskill Forest: A History provides more of the story, page 104-5. I have included Rider Hollow and McKinley Hollow details.

By 1935 ... the lower Rider Hollow, and the lower McKinley Hollow Lean-to were already in service. ... The upper Rider Hollow Lean-to was built in 1946, ... the upper McKinley Hollow lean-to in 1976. Sometime between May 1994 and May 1995 the lower Rider Hollow Lean-to was burned, apparently by campers.

He does not mention the fate of the lower McKinley Hollow lean-to, however, it was on the 1996 edition of the NYNJTC map 42, but was missing on the 1998 edition of the same map.

Wooden bridges come and go. Streams often flood and may take out a bridge. The AMC Catskill Mountain Guide, 2002, and earlier guidebooks mention a wooden bridge before the McKinley Hollow trail register at 0.1 miles from the trailhead. I do not know the current status of that bridge, but it might have been taken out by the April 3, 2005 flood. None of the guidebooks mention, nor do I remember, a bridge at the second stream crossing just before the site of the lower (now gone) lean-to. But bridges may have come and gone at that site. It is just another 0.25 mile to the upper lean-to (still there).

To satisfy yourself you might want to visit Rider Hollow. From the trailhead the first stream crossing at 0.05 miles was once a wooden bridge (as late as 1988), but now just stepping stones. The lower lean-to site (was a large double-size lean-to, now gone) at 0.3 miles. Junction with Mine Hollow trail at 0.35 miles. Then a wooden and iron suspension bridge and a second wooden bridge. The upper lean-to (still there) is at 0.5 miles.

 

[Jay H]

Thought of something else, was your father a hunter? I believe Rider Hollow is sort of popular with hunters who stay at the leanto. Mill brook leanto on the Mill Brook Range is another one popular with the hunters in the catskills.

Jay

 

[woodstrider]

McKinley Hollow Lean-to

One of the lean-tos in McKinley Hollow was done in when a huge tree fell on. The tree and the ruins of the lean-to were then removed. I think that was in 1999. I believe it was the one closer to the parking area.

 

[mudhook51]

I remember two lean-tos along the ryder hlw. stream.I also think the bridges used to be wood? Mckinnly the same but i don't remember bridges.