MattC
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- Sep 2, 2004
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Started out from Prediger Rd. at about 9:30. There was one other car parked there. Upon signing the register, I found out that it was Ryan (Catskill Climber) and he was signed in for the Indian Head loop. My original plan was to climb up to Jimmy Dolan Notch, run and tag Indian Head, back down to the Notch, up and over Twin, then back the way I came.
When I got to the junction of the Devil's Path and the Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail, I didn't notice any track on the DP. The JD Notch Trail continued the snowshoe track that had started at the trailhead. I figured Ryan must be taking the Notch trail up and the DP back down the other side.
There was only about 2-3" at first, so I barebooted until about 250' below the Notch. At one point I slipped on some treacherous ice hidden beneath the light powder. I still didn't really need the 'shoes for snow depth, but the traction helped a lot, and the snow did get deeper in a short time.
When I got up to the Notch, the Indian Head side was unbroken powder. I then thought that perhaps Ryan had decided to do Twin as well, and that perhaps I'd run into him after all. I decided to head up Twin first. There was a little ice on the ledgy areas, but nothing worth putting on the crampons for. The snowshoe track continued all the way up and over to the true summit. It was very windy there, much more than on the other end. Wind must have been out of the NW. I took a few shots there and then headed back and had lunch and more pics on the SE summit. Twin is one of my favs, no doubt. Two wonderful summit vistas, and a honey of a trail connecting 'em.
Back down to the Notch. I now saw Ryan's bareboot tracks coming down Indian Head and realized that he must have gone up the east side. I think there was so little snow (and so many rocks) on the DP back at the junction that he hadn't left much of a track.
Climbing Indian Head I started feeling a hot spot on my right heel. A little moleskin and I was good to go. Up top, I decided to go back down the east side. I knew the steep parts would be tricky, but I really wanted more views!
I was not disappointed on either count. I wore the 'shoes over Indian Head and back down as far as the outcrop that looks over a Plattekill Mt. Here I switched into the crampons for the steep area to the side of the ledge. It was mixed rock and snow, w/ just enough ice in "strategic" locations that I was glad to have the spikes on.
I kept 'em on for a while. The few other steep spots were a bit tricky, but nothing too bad. The views from the other lookouts along the switchback section were outstanding. I took more pics and continued on. A little below the last lookout I took off the crampons and barebooted the rest of the way. It was about this time that I saw two other guys coming up. I did something I never do-I gave unsolicited advice! Ahh! It just started coming out of my mouth and I couldn't stop it. They had no packs, I think one guy had a waist pack, and I assume no crampons. I guessed they had come up from Devil's Kitchen leanto and left packs there.
I basically just wanted to warn them about the steep areas since they said they were going to all the way to Twin and it was already less than 3 hours 'till dark. I tried to be polite and friendly about it. Hope they didn't take offense, and more importantly I hope they're okay. Perhaps they just went up to the first couple Indian Head lookouts and came back, which they would have had plenty of light for. Anyhow...
I got back down to the junction and schlepped back out the last two miles. Saw a couple walking their dog and assumed they were just taking a walk on this relatively flat stretch of trail. The rest of the way out was uneventful except for a rodent sighting. It was a mouse, shrew, vole, or something.
I watched it scurry around on the snow, but by the time I had the camera out, it was inside a hole in some tree roots. Funny how much more interesting a rodent is in the backcountry than in the city...
Back at the register, I saw that the couple w/ the dog was signed in for Indian Head as well! They also had no packs and were between 2 and 1/2 and 3 miles from the summit when I saw them at about 3 o'clock. I think that the guy had been wearing a heavy down coat. I also hope they didn't try to continue too far. Weird that I saw only 4 people all day, and they all worried me a bit. I hope that this unseasonable warmth and lack of deep snow isn't lulling people into a false sense of security.
I was back out at about 4. Once again, never needed more than 2 layers all day! Throughout the route I did, there were maybe a dozen blowdowns, some walk-arounds and a couple crawl-unders. These trails will need a little work come spring. Platte Clove Rd. from Tannersville was in fine shape, although that may change if we get more precip in the next couple days. Hope Ryan had a good hike, too bad we didn't run into one another. I was also thinking about Rocky Summit and Mudhook when I looked across the Clove at High Peak.
Matt
When I got to the junction of the Devil's Path and the Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail, I didn't notice any track on the DP. The JD Notch Trail continued the snowshoe track that had started at the trailhead. I figured Ryan must be taking the Notch trail up and the DP back down the other side.
There was only about 2-3" at first, so I barebooted until about 250' below the Notch. At one point I slipped on some treacherous ice hidden beneath the light powder. I still didn't really need the 'shoes for snow depth, but the traction helped a lot, and the snow did get deeper in a short time.
When I got up to the Notch, the Indian Head side was unbroken powder. I then thought that perhaps Ryan had decided to do Twin as well, and that perhaps I'd run into him after all. I decided to head up Twin first. There was a little ice on the ledgy areas, but nothing worth putting on the crampons for. The snowshoe track continued all the way up and over to the true summit. It was very windy there, much more than on the other end. Wind must have been out of the NW. I took a few shots there and then headed back and had lunch and more pics on the SE summit. Twin is one of my favs, no doubt. Two wonderful summit vistas, and a honey of a trail connecting 'em.
Back down to the Notch. I now saw Ryan's bareboot tracks coming down Indian Head and realized that he must have gone up the east side. I think there was so little snow (and so many rocks) on the DP back at the junction that he hadn't left much of a track.
Climbing Indian Head I started feeling a hot spot on my right heel. A little moleskin and I was good to go. Up top, I decided to go back down the east side. I knew the steep parts would be tricky, but I really wanted more views!
I was not disappointed on either count. I wore the 'shoes over Indian Head and back down as far as the outcrop that looks over a Plattekill Mt. Here I switched into the crampons for the steep area to the side of the ledge. It was mixed rock and snow, w/ just enough ice in "strategic" locations that I was glad to have the spikes on.
I kept 'em on for a while. The few other steep spots were a bit tricky, but nothing too bad. The views from the other lookouts along the switchback section were outstanding. I took more pics and continued on. A little below the last lookout I took off the crampons and barebooted the rest of the way. It was about this time that I saw two other guys coming up. I did something I never do-I gave unsolicited advice! Ahh! It just started coming out of my mouth and I couldn't stop it. They had no packs, I think one guy had a waist pack, and I assume no crampons. I guessed they had come up from Devil's Kitchen leanto and left packs there.
I basically just wanted to warn them about the steep areas since they said they were going to all the way to Twin and it was already less than 3 hours 'till dark. I tried to be polite and friendly about it. Hope they didn't take offense, and more importantly I hope they're okay. Perhaps they just went up to the first couple Indian Head lookouts and came back, which they would have had plenty of light for. Anyhow...
I got back down to the junction and schlepped back out the last two miles. Saw a couple walking their dog and assumed they were just taking a walk on this relatively flat stretch of trail. The rest of the way out was uneventful except for a rodent sighting. It was a mouse, shrew, vole, or something.
I watched it scurry around on the snow, but by the time I had the camera out, it was inside a hole in some tree roots. Funny how much more interesting a rodent is in the backcountry than in the city...
Back at the register, I saw that the couple w/ the dog was signed in for Indian Head as well! They also had no packs and were between 2 and 1/2 and 3 miles from the summit when I saw them at about 3 o'clock. I think that the guy had been wearing a heavy down coat. I also hope they didn't try to continue too far. Weird that I saw only 4 people all day, and they all worried me a bit. I hope that this unseasonable warmth and lack of deep snow isn't lulling people into a false sense of security.
I was back out at about 4. Once again, never needed more than 2 layers all day! Throughout the route I did, there were maybe a dozen blowdowns, some walk-arounds and a couple crawl-unders. These trails will need a little work come spring. Platte Clove Rd. from Tannersville was in fine shape, although that may change if we get more precip in the next couple days. Hope Ryan had a good hike, too bad we didn't run into one another. I was also thinking about Rocky Summit and Mudhook when I looked across the Clove at High Peak.
Matt
) We did Vly and Bearpen today and didn't see another soul. I was quite surprised given how nice a day it was. Quite a bit of snow up there and snowshoes were definitely helpful. 
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