Tom Rankin
Well-known member
That stands for 'spelling is apparently correct'! When you get to the Devil's Path from Mink Hollow, that's what the DEC sign says! Apparently Platte Clove and Platteau are spelled the same way! 
Well, that was the first 1/2 mile of the trip. It did include a few rapidly melting water crossings, but we all made it. After that, we set our sights on Sugarloaf. We figured we would go up in the shade, while it was still 'cold'. Ha! The temps were ridiculously warm for Winter. The Sun was shining. The wind was calm. The only thing missing was mud! Fortunately, the huge snow dump of late was getting pretty consolidated. We went slowly up the trail, with a group of varying abilities. Some were able to leap up the trail, others - well, they had issues. Let's just say that if I ever see anyone with Tubbs Sojourner's on, I will not allow them to hike with me! The keyhole was so filled with snow that we had to walk OVER it! The tough ledge was the tough ledge, but we all got up safely. After that, it was just a slog. Just before the top, we stopped and admired Blackhead and remembered the recent tragedy. We met Solo Joe for the first time, and at the top, we met Halia and 'used-to-be-sling-Boy', out with the pooches for a rehab hike. We all spent some time at the view rock soaking in the gorgeous day.
When we left, 'No-longer' and Heather went East and we went West, heading down to the col for the assault of Platteau. (Spelling is still correct!)
2 participants bailed and Laurie went with them. So now, our hike of 7 was down to 4. We slogged slowly up the mountain, following Joe's semi-broken trail. Eventually we saw him again for the 2nd time, just a few hundred feet before the top. We made it to the top and had a quick break. Just after leaving, we bumped into Laurie S, who was finishing her W35 in about 1 minute! We told them that if they hurried, we would give them a ride back to their car. They hurried!
The walk back down was pretty exciting with all the soft snow. We fell and flopped down the mountain to the col. Laurie S was right behind us. Out we went to the cars, and away we went. 49 at the trailhead and 70 in Phoenicia! That's a huge difference for 1500' of elevation!
A great day to be out, and nice to meet new friends and old!
Well, that was the first 1/2 mile of the trip. It did include a few rapidly melting water crossings, but we all made it. After that, we set our sights on Sugarloaf. We figured we would go up in the shade, while it was still 'cold'. Ha! The temps were ridiculously warm for Winter. The Sun was shining. The wind was calm. The only thing missing was mud!
Fortunately, the huge snow dump of late was getting pretty consolidated. We went slowly up the trail, with a group of varying abilities. Some were able to leap up the trail, others - well, they had issues. Let's just say that if I ever see anyone with Tubbs Sojourner's on, I will not allow them to hike with me! The keyhole was so filled with snow that we had to walk OVER it! The tough ledge was the tough ledge, but we all got up safely. After that, it was just a slog. Just before the top, we stopped and admired Blackhead and remembered the recent tragedy. We met Solo Joe for the first time, and at the top, we met Halia and 'used-to-be-sling-Boy', out with the pooches for a rehab hike. We all spent some time at the view rock soaking in the gorgeous day. When we left, 'No-longer' and Heather went East and we went West, heading down to the col for the assault of Platteau. (Spelling is still correct!)
2 participants bailed and Laurie went with them. So now, our hike of 7 was down to 4. We slogged slowly up the mountain, following Joe's semi-broken trail. Eventually we saw him again for the 2nd time, just a few hundred feet before the top. We made it to the top and had a quick break. Just after leaving, we bumped into Laurie S, who was finishing her W35 in about 1 minute! We told them that if they hurried, we would give them a ride back to their car. They hurried!
The walk back down was pretty exciting with all the soft snow. We fell and flopped down the mountain to the col. Laurie S was right behind us. Out we went to the cars, and away we went. 49 at the trailhead and 70 in Phoenicia!
That's a huge difference for 1500' of elevation!A great day to be out, and nice to meet new friends and old!
