4 of us and 1 pooch did a pair of Catskill 100 highest bushwhacks yesterday. Early in the a.m. the snow was a bit supportive and we were on top with little sinking. We knew that there was a lot of snow up high so the snowshoes rode on the packs.
We were able to reach the summit of EJR without taking the shoes off the packs though walking the summit ridge thru a jumble of blown down tree tops led to a series or repeated 'fall throughs' and spruce trap extrications.
We covered most of the summit ridge up to its highpoint and there was no evidence of any 2 legged tracks for quite some time but we did cross the tracks of a huge bear just out of hibernation. The lumbering bear was very large and deeply postholing with every step - it was not in any obvious hurry. After some summit photos of the folks whose visit was their first, we dropped down to the open ledges. We pushed a much smaller bear out of the woods across the opening and saw its running tracks on the fresh snow. Looks like last year's yearling. With all the conversation and Bookah running about it's no surprise the bear wanted no part of us. We whacked down by a slightly different route and intersected our trail and hiked back to the cars.
After a lunch break we headed over to Onteora and enjoyed our second peak of the day. Like EJR, the leafless trees provided endless screened views and we were on the top in what seemed like no time. Again, congratulations to one in the party for their first time on the summit.
We had warming temps, filtered sun all day and no breeze. We could have used the snowshoes on different places on the 'whacks, but the combination of spruce traps, thick going and a combination of deep snow in some places and no snow in others led us to leave them on the packs.
Thanks to Ralph and Maddy for the chilled beer back at the car and congratulations to Maddy on picking up another CHH peak and to Moonray for 2 more.
Bookah climbed EJR 4x and Onterora 2x. The softening snow tuckered her out and she slept all the way home and all evening and night in her crate.
2 really nice 'whacks and the usually excellent company and conversation all day.
We were able to reach the summit of EJR without taking the shoes off the packs though walking the summit ridge thru a jumble of blown down tree tops led to a series or repeated 'fall throughs' and spruce trap extrications.
We covered most of the summit ridge up to its highpoint and there was no evidence of any 2 legged tracks for quite some time but we did cross the tracks of a huge bear just out of hibernation. The lumbering bear was very large and deeply postholing with every step - it was not in any obvious hurry. After some summit photos of the folks whose visit was their first, we dropped down to the open ledges. We pushed a much smaller bear out of the woods across the opening and saw its running tracks on the fresh snow. Looks like last year's yearling. With all the conversation and Bookah running about it's no surprise the bear wanted no part of us. We whacked down by a slightly different route and intersected our trail and hiked back to the cars.
After a lunch break we headed over to Onteora and enjoyed our second peak of the day. Like EJR, the leafless trees provided endless screened views and we were on the top in what seemed like no time. Again, congratulations to one in the party for their first time on the summit.
We had warming temps, filtered sun all day and no breeze. We could have used the snowshoes on different places on the 'whacks, but the combination of spruce traps, thick going and a combination of deep snow in some places and no snow in others led us to leave them on the packs.
Thanks to Ralph and Maddy for the chilled beer back at the car and congratulations to Maddy on picking up another CHH peak and to Moonray for 2 more.
Bookah climbed EJR 4x and Onterora 2x. The softening snow tuckered her out and she slept all the way home and all evening and night in her crate.
2 really nice 'whacks and the usually excellent company and conversation all day.
