Plateau/Sugarloaf 2/5/05

MattC · Feb 5, 2005

This was a 3500 Club hike led by Harry R w/ about a dozen of us. Went up the old Mink Hollow Trail and made the col in less than half an hour. Most of us barebooted as it seemed like snowshoes were more trouble than they were worth. The trail was pretty well packed all the way up Plateau. We went a quarter mile or so into the summit forest for a quick break and several of our group went all the way to the other end. The rest of us headed back down, enjoying some glissading on the way. At one point I traversed about fifty feet this way! Self arrest was generally achieved w/ poles, small trees, and/or by sliding in the deeper snow trailside.

We barebooted maybe halfway up Sugarloaf, at which point crampons became pretty much essential. It was my first time using the spikes and I got a little coaching from the 35ers I was with. I was impressed w/ the security the things give you, even on glassy ice w/ no handholds. The views were outstanding, and of course we couldn't ask for better weather. Probably mid-to-high 30s, even up top, and very little wind. There's an amazing, huge, blue ice floe on the Mink Hollow side of Sugarloaf somewhere around 3200-3300'.
This we stopped to admire on our return. No wildlife (probably too loud), except for a few birds and lots of snow fleas dancing on the trail. The whole hike took maybe 6 and a half hours.

Matt

coldfeet · Feb 6, 2005

Matt,

sounds like a great trip! I was supposed to go but the wife grounded me! I'm looking at the cannister for next Sat. and I want to do the Sugarloaf trip..I put my foot down last night (carefully) and told my wife that I'm going out next week. Maybe we'll hook up...Coldfeet

Jay H · Feb 6, 2005

Did you take a look up at the Blackhead range? Dr Wu and I had awesome views of pretty much the entire Devil's Path, especially Indian Head/Twin/Sugarloaf/Plateau from Black Dome. It was crazy warm, wasn't it?

I'm surprised we only saw about 4 hikers going to Black Head which is a winter peak. I expected with the warm temps, saturday and BH being a winter peak, I thought we'd see a crowd. trail of course from Big Hollow is packed though.

Jay

MattC · Feb 6, 2005

Jay H said:
Did you take a look up at the Blackhead range? Dr Wu and I had awesome views of pretty much the entire Devil's Path

Yeah, I think we saw you guys

Seriously, it was indeed crazy warm and a splendid day to be out. I'm glad you guys had a great hike as well. At one point coming down from Sugarloaf we had an excellent view of the entire Blackhead Range, including the Camel's Hump before TC. If I read Wu's report correctly, you guys went to Blackhead and then back the same way? That might be even harder than a loop in some ways.

I just got back from doing Windham from RT 23. It was even warmer today. This was a good hike for today since it's not that hard, and I was sorta blown out after yesterday. Also, WHP is a gem in the winter, w/ great views of the Blackheads. Blackhead looks much narrower and more rounded from this side than it does from Hunter or the DP peaks. Also, the cool darkness of the norway spruce stands contrasted very dramatically w/ the glaring sun on snow in the open hardwood areas. Neat effect.

Matt

Jay H · Feb 6, 2005

Yup, we could make out WHP from any of the northernly views... That entire bowl is pretty neat, between the BH range and the Escarpment trail.

I know somebody mentioned the snowmobile tracks. I met Dr. Wu at Peck Road, and I got there early, like around 5:30am so I walked up the trail for a bit to the register. The snowmobile tracks were here to... Were they all the way towards WHP or did they go towards Rt 23?

Uploading pictures now!

We'll post a trip report soon!

We both got to the Escarpment trail right east of Black Head and looked at the sign that said somthing like 10.3 miles to Rt 23 (peck road would be fairly similar length) and looked at our watch saying 12:40 and thought that would be very hard, given the snow condition and the fact that I thought it would not be that packed past the trail to the lean to. Easier in terms of altitude gained/loss, but a lot less packed than the trail to Black Head.

Jay

MattC · Feb 6, 2005

Jay-the snowmobiles had been all along the trail from Rt 23 to the junction near Elm Ridge lean-to, so they were probably going back and forth between 23 and Peck Rd. The trail might as well have been plowed, it was so wide and packed down! From the junction to the summit, it was well-broken w/ boots and 'shoes.

You guys probably did the best thing in turning back. When I did that loop, I was at about the same place at the same time, but it was mid-October, so I had a lot more light, and a lot less snow (approximately none) to walk through. Plus, I was crashing at my friends place in West Saugerties that night, rather than driving back to Jersey or Boston. Sounds like you guys had a great hike anyway. I wonder if Wu dug Big Hollow as much as he did Spruceton Valley...

Matt