Tom Rankin
Well-known member
We did 4 'off trail' hikes this weekend, although some of them could be debated.
The cast of characters was Connie, Fran and Steve, and Laurie and myself.
The first was Vly. We walked up the road, (which was being worked on by a bulldozer when we get back!), and then headed up the herd path to the summit. Easy enough. A little snow left over from the previous night's lake effect flurries, enough to put on the micro spikes for the way down.
Back down to the col, where it was warming quickly. We layered off and headed up to Bear pen, following the snowmobile trail almost the entire way. It's not groomed like a hiking trail, but it's marked. Trailless? Hardly...
Saturday night, Views and Brews at the Gilded Otter for Steve and Fran!
Sunday we met Connie, Fran and Steve again for Friday and Balsam Cap. This is more of a whack. We did manage to stay on herd paths most of the way, at least past the cabin, but no one maintains them, and there were several branches whacking us here and there! Great views from the lookout! Just a trace of snow today, in one spot on BC, that was it. Windy at times, and dead calm at others. Cold at times and sweating our a$$ off at others. A lot of new blowdown up in the hills this weekend. Some herd paths are getting a little harder to follow due to that. Such is fall hiking in the Cats.
The cast of characters was Connie, Fran and Steve, and Laurie and myself.
The first was Vly. We walked up the road, (which was being worked on by a bulldozer when we get back!), and then headed up the herd path to the summit. Easy enough. A little snow left over from the previous night's lake effect flurries, enough to put on the micro spikes for the way down.
Back down to the col, where it was warming quickly. We layered off and headed up to Bear pen, following the snowmobile trail almost the entire way. It's not groomed like a hiking trail, but it's marked. Trailless? Hardly...
Saturday night, Views and Brews at the Gilded Otter for Steve and Fran!
Sunday we met Connie, Fran and Steve again for Friday and Balsam Cap. This is more of a whack. We did manage to stay on herd paths most of the way, at least past the cabin, but no one maintains them, and there were several branches whacking us here and there! Great views from the lookout! Just a trace of snow today, in one spot on BC, that was it. Windy at times, and dead calm at others. Cold at times and sweating our a$$ off at others. A lot of new blowdown up in the hills this weekend. Some herd paths are getting a little harder to follow due to that. Such is fall hiking in the Cats.
