funkyfreddy
Well-known member
Sunday Jay, Matt (mcorsar), Ralph (hermit), Ted (erd) and I did these 3 mountains on a stunningly beautiful spring day. Jay and I had done this same loop last Oct. but had foul weather, and since then I’ve been mildly obsessed with getting the view from Van Wyck on a clear day.
Sat. night at the Catskill 3500 club dinner Matt and I circulated, seeing as to conditions. We had heard that Peekamoose road was closed due to flooding and wanted to know the snow depths on Table, Peekamoose, etc. Sorting through the different rumors was interesting as was meeting so many new hikers, some of whom were frequent and familar names in trail registers and canisters. Someone else will have to do a Catskill 3500 dinner trip report, however, as being a total newcomer to this organisation I don’t feel quite fit for the task.
I was quite happy when Ralph expressed interest in going with us as he knows so much about the Catskills from hiking and living there so long. Almost as an after thought I decided to ask Ted about the location of a plane crash on van Wyck after Matt suggested it at the end of the dinner. I was very pleased when Ted wanted to come along, offering to lead us to 2 crash sites.
We met around 9AM, strapping snowshoes to our packs at the Peekamoose trailhead. We climbed up to a woods road and then followed it for a bit along the eastern side of Van Wyck. Along the way we passed an old cellar hole/foundation and numerous other signs of previous settlement gobbled up by the Catskill forest. We soon got up to the large plateau on the south side of Van Wyck, and I had a good time listening to Ralph and Ted discuss the history of the area, different hikes, etc. as Ralph pointed out claw marks where bear had climbed Beech trees.
Soon we came to the 1st plane crash site, apparently a military aircraft on a test flight that went horribly wrong. It stood out starkly against the earth as there was no snow cover left and the vegetation yet to grow around it. We explored respectfully, leaving the site as found it. The 2nd site was not much farther away and had small plaque mounted on a tree next to it as a memorial to the 5 people that died when it crashed in 1977. I got a spooky feeling from the site and was reminded of how fragile life can be, how subject to chance our lives can be.
Ted had mentioned pits in the ground near the summit and we soon found them, 2 pits right next to each other, seemingly man made. What purpose they may have served puzzled us, and left even our Catskill experts scratching their heads. Right after the pits came the steep climb to the summit. The soil was moist, the rocks loose and we had to careful to spread out in order not to roll rocks and loose pieces of blow down on each other as we scrambled up the hill. An interesting rock formation broke up the climb with a small cave that someone had apparently lived in.
After we finished our steep climb we came upon the charming summit area and to the viewpoint I had been thinking about for the past 6 months. It was gorgeous, directly across from Table and Peekamoose, with good views south towards Sky Top, the gunks and NJ’s high point as well as a nice view north of Slide. it was as good a lunch spot as one can find and we ate on the ledge as hawks and turkey vultures flew below us in the Peekamoose valley.
Yes, spring was here, winter in full retreat! There was very little snow where I expected it north of Van Wyck on our way towards Table. Good views were had through the trees to the west as we slowly climbed Table, crossing an area thick with blow down that Jay and I had encountered the previous year. As we got up on Tables shoulder we came upon a great view south from a ledge that can be spotted both from Peekamoose and Van Wyck. After a brief pause we went on and got to the the trail on Table, where we finally encountered snow deep enough to warrant snowshoes, not all of us choosing to use them, however.
At the summit of Table we encountered an art exhibit/snow monument of four cute little snow men. Someone had taken a break from their peak bagging and decided to be creative and whimsical, or perhaps they were giving an offering to the Catskill Yeti.... I secretly sprinkled a handful of Funkyfreddy’s gorp amongst them, hoping to appease the mountain Gods and perhaps even get their blessings on this beautiful spring sabbath.
And yes, blessings we did get! More views and an after hike gathering at Ralph’s for a bite to eat and a drink or 2. Jay and Ralph went ahead as Matt waited for Ted and I at the Peekamoose summit then on down the trail the 3 of us went, alternately discussing trail maintenance, film, fiction, Catskill legends and lore and esoteric literature among other subjects. The conversation was fun as it had been the rest of the day, and when we got to Ralph’s Maddy was very gracious, serving us food and drink as Ralph showed some artifacts and told us more about the history of the area. I wished I could have stayed longer but had to go back with Matt to New Paltz. I caught the 10:25 bus back to NYC, where I was “treated” with a cacophony of cell phone conversations in different languages from all angles. I took a deep breath as my body stiffened up from the days exertions, making me further appreciate the peace and quiet of the Catskills.
Once again I should close with some thanks and appreciation - first to Tom Rankin for picking me up at the Kingston bus stop and giving me a ride to the3500 dinner, then to Matt for letting me stay at his house, for breakfast, for rides back and forth to the trail, for being fun to hike with etc, etc. Then of course to Ralph and Ted for sharing their knowledge, guidance and also being such fun to hike with, and of course to Jay as always for being well - Jay, always great to hike with and explore new territory! Thanks everyone, hope to explore with you again, soon! Fred
Sat. night at the Catskill 3500 club dinner Matt and I circulated, seeing as to conditions. We had heard that Peekamoose road was closed due to flooding and wanted to know the snow depths on Table, Peekamoose, etc. Sorting through the different rumors was interesting as was meeting so many new hikers, some of whom were frequent and familar names in trail registers and canisters. Someone else will have to do a Catskill 3500 dinner trip report, however, as being a total newcomer to this organisation I don’t feel quite fit for the task.
I was quite happy when Ralph expressed interest in going with us as he knows so much about the Catskills from hiking and living there so long. Almost as an after thought I decided to ask Ted about the location of a plane crash on van Wyck after Matt suggested it at the end of the dinner. I was very pleased when Ted wanted to come along, offering to lead us to 2 crash sites.
We met around 9AM, strapping snowshoes to our packs at the Peekamoose trailhead. We climbed up to a woods road and then followed it for a bit along the eastern side of Van Wyck. Along the way we passed an old cellar hole/foundation and numerous other signs of previous settlement gobbled up by the Catskill forest. We soon got up to the large plateau on the south side of Van Wyck, and I had a good time listening to Ralph and Ted discuss the history of the area, different hikes, etc. as Ralph pointed out claw marks where bear had climbed Beech trees.
Soon we came to the 1st plane crash site, apparently a military aircraft on a test flight that went horribly wrong. It stood out starkly against the earth as there was no snow cover left and the vegetation yet to grow around it. We explored respectfully, leaving the site as found it. The 2nd site was not much farther away and had small plaque mounted on a tree next to it as a memorial to the 5 people that died when it crashed in 1977. I got a spooky feeling from the site and was reminded of how fragile life can be, how subject to chance our lives can be.
Ted had mentioned pits in the ground near the summit and we soon found them, 2 pits right next to each other, seemingly man made. What purpose they may have served puzzled us, and left even our Catskill experts scratching their heads. Right after the pits came the steep climb to the summit. The soil was moist, the rocks loose and we had to careful to spread out in order not to roll rocks and loose pieces of blow down on each other as we scrambled up the hill. An interesting rock formation broke up the climb with a small cave that someone had apparently lived in.
After we finished our steep climb we came upon the charming summit area and to the viewpoint I had been thinking about for the past 6 months. It was gorgeous, directly across from Table and Peekamoose, with good views south towards Sky Top, the gunks and NJ’s high point as well as a nice view north of Slide. it was as good a lunch spot as one can find and we ate on the ledge as hawks and turkey vultures flew below us in the Peekamoose valley.
Yes, spring was here, winter in full retreat! There was very little snow where I expected it north of Van Wyck on our way towards Table. Good views were had through the trees to the west as we slowly climbed Table, crossing an area thick with blow down that Jay and I had encountered the previous year. As we got up on Tables shoulder we came upon a great view south from a ledge that can be spotted both from Peekamoose and Van Wyck. After a brief pause we went on and got to the the trail on Table, where we finally encountered snow deep enough to warrant snowshoes, not all of us choosing to use them, however.
At the summit of Table we encountered an art exhibit/snow monument of four cute little snow men. Someone had taken a break from their peak bagging and decided to be creative and whimsical, or perhaps they were giving an offering to the Catskill Yeti.... I secretly sprinkled a handful of Funkyfreddy’s gorp amongst them, hoping to appease the mountain Gods and perhaps even get their blessings on this beautiful spring sabbath.
And yes, blessings we did get! More views and an after hike gathering at Ralph’s for a bite to eat and a drink or 2. Jay and Ralph went ahead as Matt waited for Ted and I at the Peekamoose summit then on down the trail the 3 of us went, alternately discussing trail maintenance, film, fiction, Catskill legends and lore and esoteric literature among other subjects. The conversation was fun as it had been the rest of the day, and when we got to Ralph’s Maddy was very gracious, serving us food and drink as Ralph showed some artifacts and told us more about the history of the area. I wished I could have stayed longer but had to go back with Matt to New Paltz. I caught the 10:25 bus back to NYC, where I was “treated” with a cacophony of cell phone conversations in different languages from all angles. I took a deep breath as my body stiffened up from the days exertions, making me further appreciate the peace and quiet of the Catskills.
Once again I should close with some thanks and appreciation - first to Tom Rankin for picking me up at the Kingston bus stop and giving me a ride to the3500 dinner, then to Matt for letting me stay at his house, for breakfast, for rides back and forth to the trail, for being fun to hike with etc, etc. Then of course to Ralph and Ted for sharing their knowledge, guidance and also being such fun to hike with, and of course to Jay as always for being well - Jay, always great to hike with and explore new territory! Thanks everyone, hope to explore with you again, soon! Fred
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