West Kill

[MattC]

I finished the Catskill 35 today on this fine mountain, with some fine folks.
The crew consisted of myself, Dawn (Hike the 115), Coldfeet, Halite, RockySummit, Lark, Dominique, Frank and Rich. We hit the trail about 9:40 or so, starting at the west end of the Devil's Path.

The snow was maybe 6-8 inches on top of a packed base, just a little soft. It got up to between 2 and 3 feet up on the summit ridge, plus drifts. There was some extensive snowballing on a few snowshoe crampons, but the snow was crisper and drier on the shadier east slope on our way down. We broke trail pretty much all day.

Spectacular weather, and great views throughout. Walking over the little subpeak (St. Anne's) was nice, and of course the legendary panorama at Buck Ridge was magnificent. Special thanks to Dawn for bringing the bubbly, which was very thoughful.

After the champagne, food and photos at Buck Ridge Lookout , we headed back down to Diamond Notch, with the group fanning out a bit. The snow was close to perfect on this side, making the descent really enjoyable. There were four twentish kids hanging out in the cave as we passed. Diamond Notch Falls had a bit of pretty blue ice, and we regrouped there and trotted out the last mile, which was well broken.

We did the car shuttle thing, then 2/3 of the crew hit Winchells in Boiceville for a beer and some garlic bread and lukewarm soup. Apparently a cook had just chopped off a finger or something. Anyhow, mediocre food couldn't possible bring us down after this fantastic day in the mountains. Thanks to y'all who came, and the many others on this site who have provided info and inspiration over these past months. Today was the end of the beginning. At least I hope so.

Matt

 

[Tom Rankin]

I finished the Catskill 35 today on this fine mountain, with some fine folks. The crew consisted of myself, Dawn (Hike the 115), Coldfeet, Halite, RockySummit, Lark, Dominique, Frank and Rich.

Congrats Matt! I liked that "The end of the beginning". So, what's next ?

 

[coldfeet]

Matt, I'm tired! 7 noisy kids in my house right now, i should have stayed and fought off the boogyman! Thx for making me go back to playing golf!..just joking..will write a report tomorrow..great hike, congratulations on your achievment!

 

[Mark Schaefer]

Dittos on the congratulations Matt! I also liked the line about the "end of the beginning". There is of course never a beginning of the end. Not even if you choose perhaps the best list of all - the paths or peaks that just interest you.

By picking up St. Anne's Peak you conveniently got in another on the Catskill 3K list. No doubt the 46 will be calling your name, but there are still a lot of unspoiled peaks, trails, and off-trail forests in the Catskills.

 

[askus3]

I can't wait (actually I am) for the encore on Thursday, June 23. Same hike, completely different season, except I will also celebrate my 35 year completion with a dip in the Diamond Notch Falls. Congratulations!

 

[MattC]

Thanks guys. As for Tom's query, Mark's got it just about right. ADKs are definitely a priority, and I of course want to continue exploring the Catskills and my beloved Shawangunks. I've still never even been to Kaaterskill Falls!
I'd also like to make a foray or two into New England at some point.

Matt

 

[ROCKYSUMMIT]

Hey Matt, Congrats! Was A Great Day With Some Really Nice Folks.i'll Keep In Touch And Have Copies Of Photos Sent To You. Tony

 

[Tom Rankin]

Thanks guys. As for Tom's query, Mark's got it just about right. ADKs are definitely a priority, and I of course want to continue exploring the Catskills and my beloved Shawangunks. I've still never even been to Kaaterskill Falls! I'd also like to make a foray or two into New England at some point. Matt

This would be a good time to do Kaaterskill Falls, when there is a lot of runoff. But go during the week if you can, otherwise it's really crowded. And toss the crampons in your pack, if you want to get down close to the falls. The spray tends to freeze all over the place and makes for treacherous conditions at times.

 

[Rik]

Congrats Matt. Glad you had such a nice day for your Catskill 35 finish!

 

[ajtiv]

Hey Matt congratulations
you saved a great hike for last.
I wish I could have joined you but family comes first (sometimes).
you had a good group and champagne to top it off not bad.
Well I am with you ADK's are next.
Just booked an 8 day camp in Rollins Pond for some hiking for the week of 4TH of July. If you have time to come up and hike let me know. I hope the black flies have died down by then. Actually all are invited.
See most of you at the dinner.
Al

 

[hikethe115]

It was a great day indeed! We are so lucky to have that blue sky and great views. Congratulations again Matt, I'm glad I could be part of the celebration. There's no stopping you now!

 

[coldfeet]

Ok I'm back, you guys would be proud of me, I exercised this morning by walking the local track with a light pack for app 1 1/2 hours with wife and friends. My knees were locked in the sitting position after the long drive home.

About the hike, I am out of shape..Dawn was nice enough to be the sweeper for a while and kept me going..i need to find partners that hike the same speed as me..the main group was probably 7 - 10 min ahead pretty much the whole trip..I've experienced glissading on my butt, sometimes good and sometimes bad when you slide into the bushes!.
Oh i forgot to zipper my side vents on my pants BEFORE glissading, but the snow woke me up.

Also every step i took i would sink 2 inches down and the shoes would slide back because of the snowballs. Hey, wait till you see the picture of Tony's balls! Their humongus! Of course as usual i experienced shrinkage and had little balls again

I glissaded with snowshoes on and same thing happened, going to fast can't stop and i hooked a tree and did a 180 to stop, thank god for that tree.

Nice thing about being slow, i did get a sunburn. I discovered that if you take one step off the packed trail you sink into lots of snow and if you fall over your arms sink into the snow without touching the ground. Very hard to get back up, my poles were almost all the way down to the ground.


I wore a poly shirt the whole time except for a few min on the peak, the views were beautiful. Drank some bubbly but then i needed to drink water to dilute it, my legs were really tired, i should have drank more but tough to force it in me. I did drink 2 litters should have had more.

Matt forgot to tell you about the narrow steep spot where it was tough to go through, it was tough mentally for me watching the experienced ones working hard on it. I just threw on gloves pulled my sleeves down and climbed on my hands and knees praying i was going to make it up.

I have to admit that I was dreaming of camping/fishing and playing golf (i haven't played in 4 years) while i was hiking, and selling my slightly used gear because i was physically beat. The VFTT group, is major league and way over my head for now. I have to get in shape so i can have "fun" hiking. You know what i mean? I just hate exercising. Thank you Matt for setting up the hike and all the others on this trip. Happy holiday's to all, it's so weird seeing no snow today after yesterday's trip.

 

[ROCKYSUMMIT]

Hey Cold Feet, You'll Be Fine. Just Try To Make Some Time During The Week, Now That Days Will Be Longer, To Push Yourself A Little Bit Harder Each Time Out. On Your Hikes, You Probably Just Need To Go At Your Own Pace For Awhile. I Have A Feeling With More Frequent Breaks And A Little Slower Pace, You Could Go On Forever! Have Fun And See You On The Trails! Tony

 

[Jay H]

Congrats Matt, sorry couldn't make it for your finish. What a nice peak... Guess hiking St Annes isn't as bad when you start, but it sure is hell after hiking the whole Devil's Path and ending at Spruceton road... (hence Snowshoe renamed the peak "Piss-me-off Peak") and it has since stuck.

Basic elemental instinct to survive
Stirs the higher passions
Thrill to be alive

Alternating currents in a tidewater surge
Rational resistance to an unwise urge

Anything can happen...

From the point of conception
To the moment of truth
At the point of surrender
To the burden of proof

From the point of ignition
To the final drive
The point of the journey is not to arrive

Anything can happen...

Basic temperamental filters on our eyes
Alter our perceptions
Lenses polarize

Alternating currents force a show of hands
Rational responses force a change of plans

Anything can happen...

From a point on the compass
To magnetic north
The point of the needle moving back and forth

From the point of entry
Until the candle is burned
The point of departure is not to return

Anything can happen...

I set the wheels in motion
Turn up all the machines
Activate the programs
And run behind the scene

I set the clouds in motion
Turn up light and sound
Activate the window
And watch the world go 'round

From the point of conception
To the moment of truth
At the point of surrender
To the burden of proof

From the point of ignition
To the final drive
The point of a journey
Is not to arrive

Anything can happen...

-Prime Mover
Rush

Something that I thought was fitting....

Jay

 

[Halite]

Congratulations Matt!

Glad I was able to join you for this one. I've never hiked in such a large group. Like you, I find it amazing that just a few months ago I had a hard time finding anyone to hike with. Thanks Views From the Top!

I'm hoping that some of my photos turned out. Since I'm still shooting slides, I have to get them developed and converted to share. I'll let you know when I get that done.

Thanks to hikethe115 (aka "bubble queen") for toting champagne AND a big bag of cookies for the summit celebration.

Coldfeet, don't be too hard on yourself. You weren't the only one feeling beat after that hike. With the tough snow conditions, it was a pretty strenuous hike. Tony is right: setting your own pace for a hike is important, but tough to do in a large group. One strategy you might want to consider for your next group hike is to give yourself a little headstart after each break--get out ahead of the group a little bit and let it catch you rather than you feeling like you're always trying to catch it. I find it takes me some time to warm up to cruising pace at the beginning of hikes, whereas some hikers I know start off like jackrabbits.

 

[coldfeet]

Thx for the advise guys. I think there were a few reasons why i was tired but I probably tried to keep up in the first 1/2 mile and got tired. I should have gone at my own pace but I wanted to keep up with the group. I also think that it was good for me to see others out there so i know where i fit in as far as speed goes.

Since this is my first year with app 20 hikes altogether I think I'm more into nature scenes at a slower pace. I wish someone could have pointed out to me the "blue" ice that i walked past. This was my first spring hike and I'm sure the next time i go out 4/9 the conditions will be much different. By the way, I gained 2 lbs last week on weight watchers, must have been the champagne and cookies! thx Dawn!

 

[dr_wu002]

Hey Matt!

Congrats on finally finishing West Kill. Now that you finally got this Pig out of the Crap Pile, so to speak, does that mean you'll be heading out to The Whites anytime soon!?

I'll be comin' to the Catskills soon for some good bushwhacking though. Hope I can join you there.

Regards,

Dr. Wu

 

[MattC]

Thanks again y'all.

Jay- "Piss-me-off Peak" isn't quite as graceful as St. Annes Peak, but it's definitely more colorful than "West West Kill" which is just ridiculous, so I'll forgive Snowshoe. After all, you guys were climbing it after six major peaks, we were climbing it after getting out of our cars.

Coldfeet-Thanks for sending me the pics. You've supplied me w/ a new avatar. Which brings me to the Master of Avatars (and weird pictures in general) himself, Dr. Wu...

Wu, unfortunately, I now have another, much larger pig to pull out of the pile up in the ADKs. That one will probably take just a little bit longer though. I will get over to NH eventually though. Reading about the area in "Forest and Crag" has fired up my interest.

Matt

 

[coldfeet]

Matt, check out your next post # coming up! Glad i could supply you with the pic, the view was incredible up there.

 

[Fu Jow Pai]

Hey Matt,

Congrats! Funky Freddy and I are right behind you. We are planning on completing our 35's Tues on Fir... Mon. we'll be doing Eagle and Balsam, as Funky needs those 2. I'm thinking Guiness might be the appropriate bevy for the finale....although I'm always partial to a shot of tequila...hhmmm