Who's working on the Catskill 100 highest?

[Mark Schaefer]

Short answer is no, but I will offer the following to John's question.

When I was doing the Catskills 3s, I was walking along the top of the ridge from Vly to SE Vly to NE Halcott. Along the way I came across a large flat area. Large means 50 to 100 ft square (It was some time ago) It was pretty darn flat. Didn't really look like poured concrete but it might have been.

So I was thinking a slab foundation for an old house or hotel? or a top of a secret missle silo? Okay it's far fetched, but I'm sure we all have had wierd thoughts when hiking alone.

Anyone else seen this spot? What are youre thoughts? Anyone really know?

In the late 1970s, early spring after the snow was gone, I solo hiked the portion of the ridge from S Vly to NE Halcott (known locally as Sleeping Lion Mt. - it kind of looks like that from the north). I hiked in from Condon Hollow. I don't remember anything like the flat area you saw. I found my circa 1975 Walking News Map #76 on which I made some field notes. I noted a summit rock on S Vly; an interesting pillar rock at 2980' near the col SE of S Vly that I dubbed the "Devil's Stool"; and a natural rock shelter midway between the Condon-Turk Hollow Rd and the 3281' west-most summit of NE Halcott. First growth extends from the 3080' false summit SE of S Vly to NE Halcott. It is doubtful that your flat area is in this section. More likely it is in the Vly / S Vly saddle, which I have not hiked.

Michael Kudish's book The Catskill Forest, A History notes that there was an old turnpike that ran over the 3100' pass between Vly and S Vly. This road was constructed some time after 1830 between Mead Rd (Halcott) and Minew Rd (Lexington). It is a very flat pass. The ridge from just below the Vly summit and over S Vly is all second growth, having been logged. This portion of the ridge is still privately owned. Kudish's map does not show any abandoned farms in the upper elevations of this ridge. If your flat area is man-made it might have been connected to logging operations. Kudish does not offer any insights on possible buildings in this area.

I remember the S Vly and Sleeping Lion bushwhack fondly. It is an attractive hike from Condon Hollow Rd, parking was no problem. The Condon-Turk Hollow road was on 1802 maps. The forest contains many abandoned farms with stone walls in the lower elevations of Condon Hollow. The ridge top hiking was all on state land, although I recall one private land boundary to the west on the way to S Vly -- it was easy to stay on state land.

 

[una_dogger]

I should be

but I've never committed to a list. I've hiked the same Catskill trails over and over just because I love them.
I glanced at the 35K list and I've done over half, including Lone, my only bushwack.

I did field work for three years in some wonderful sites in Diamond Notch and around Kanape Brook, as well as a little work in some sites near Colgate Lake and in Frost Valley. The Catskills are near and dear to me. I got into hiking and backpacking there first.


I really admire those who set a goal to accomplishing these lists!

 

[funkyfreddy]

Has anyone climbed Little Rocky, the one next to Olderbark?

It has a nice view according to Lee McAllisters book "Hiking The Catskills". I'm not sure if the view would be grown over by now since that book came out a while ago.

I'm also wondering about the unnamed 3k peak north of Silver Hollow and south of Plateau, perhaps combining all 3 of these 3k peaks into a dayhike....... hopefully Matt and Jay will be game this weekend.

 

[Mark Schaefer]

I have never climbed that Little Rocky (it's not on the list ). I do remember reading a club trip report in the Albany ADK newsletter about 5 years ago. They climbed Little Rocky and Olderbark from Silver Hollow Rd. They came in from the south, obtained permission from a property owner, and they did find the view on Little Rocky.

I have climbed the 3000' summit west of Silver Notch twice. The first time in the 1970s as a bushwhack, and the second time a couple of years ago on the new Warner Creek Trail (part of the Long Path) while doing the long way in to Tremper. The trail appears to go over both of the two 3000' contour bumps on this peak. There are some fairly open views to the east near the northern of the two bumps. I do not have an opinion on which bump is higher. This mountain is called Edgewood Mountain in the trail description on the 2001 edition of NY/NJTC map #41. It was called Silver Hollow Mountain in several earlier guidebooks.

You should be able to do Edgewood, Little Rocky, and Olderbark in one day. If you come from the north you could walk the state land boundary to avoid private land before heading south to Little Rocky. There is some room to park on the east side of Notch Inn Road just a few feet past the last driveway. The road rapidly deteriorates at this point. The east side of the road is state land. It is unlikely this area will be crowded, it is rarely used.

 

[MattC]

I have never climbed that Little Rocky (it's not on the list ). I do remember reading a club trip report in the Albany ADK newsletter about 5 years ago. They climbed Little Rocky and Olderbark from Silver Hollow Rd. They came in from the south, obtained permission from a property owner, and they did find the view on Little Rocky.

I have climbed the 3000' summit west of Silver Notch twice. The first time in the 1970s as a bushwhack, and the second time a couple of years ago on the new Warner Creek Trail (part of the Long Path) while doing the long way in to Tremper. The trail appears to go over both of the two 3000' contour bumps on this peak. There are some fairly open views to the east near the northern of the two bumps. I do not have an opinion on which bump is higher. This mountain is called Edgewood Mountain in the trail description on the 2001 edition of NY/NJTC map #41. It was called Silver Hollow Mountain in several earlier guidebooks.

You should be able to do Edgewood, Little Rocky, and Olderbark in one day. If you come from the north you could walk the state land boundary to avoid private land before heading south to Little Rocky. There is some room to park on the east side of Notch Inn Road just a few feet past the last driveway. The road rapidly deteriorates at this point. The east side of the road is state land. It is unlikely this area will be crowded, it is rarely used.

Thanks for the info, Mark. Jay and Freddy and I will be exploring this area Saturday.

Matt

 

[funkyfreddy]

a short note.....

Didn't make it to Edgewood or Little Rocky this past weekend but did make it to Olderbark/Plateau on Sat. w Matt (mcorsar), Ted (Erd), + Jay H. Olderbark has a very happy and healthy bear population as far as we can tell based on the copious amounts of bear scat on the animal trail we followed. I have never seen so much and so many piles of it............ Plateau's views were killer as always.

Sunday Matt, Jay, + I bushwacked to Roundtop from Hurricane Ledge and then visited the Bruderhoff communtiy afterwards. I was pleasantly surprised that the bushwack to Roundtop wasn't as bad as I expected it to be, although it wasn't much for views and we did run into some pretty hairy ledges on the way down.

Sunday Jay and I went to Plattekill Mt. Lots of good views on the way up and many Bluestone quarry sites. The one closest to the summit was particularly interesting and was the least disturbed of all.

What I like most of these obscure C100 quests is the many ridgelines explorations they involve and the areas of forest w/o herdpaths or recent/permanent human traces. It's a fine madness I know but I really am getting to know the Catskills a lot better.

If anyone's interested in these strange quests please feel free to contact me by PM or e-mail. I also have to give a big thanks to Jay for giving me a ride to the Catskills and back and to Jay, Matt, and Ted for being great hiking companions as always! Thanks, Fred

 

[hermit]

Is Samuels Point on the list? I will be heading up there soon.It's just shy of 3000'

 

[Jay H]

I have about 55 of the 100 done, with a need to go back to the Halcott area to do a bunch up there..

NE Halcott, Balsam, South Vly, South Bearpen...

As matt says Utsayatha and Huntersfield is another option for things on the radar...

Is there a patch for this obsession? Ya know.. kind of like a nicoteen one?

Jay

 

[John H Swanson]

IIs there a patch for this obsession? Ya know.. kind of like a nicoteen one?

Jay

Oh, you'll have plenty of patches, but they'll be all over your hiking pants !

 

[Pig Pen]

I am currently working on every peakbagging list that exists on the planet earth and in the universe for that matter. I have 98 to go on the Catskill 100 highest. 14 more to go on the world 8000 meter peaks. I still need all of the Siberean 10000 footers and all of the Australian 5000 footers.

 

[Raymond]

Is there a good place in the Catskills to get guides and maps to the Catskills? My "Catskill Trails" booklet from 1983 isn't all that helpful, and we're heading there this weekend, so there's no time to order anything online.

The last time I was in the area (2002) I don't remember stumbling across any outfitter-type places like Keene Valley's Mountaineer, for example.

 

[Rob S]

There is a place in New Paltz, which is south of the Catskills, so maybe too far out of your way. I've rented snowshoes from them in the 90's, and bought a few pieces of gear ...... I would think they have books, maps, and guides ....... but for the life of me I cannot remember the name of the place. Maybe you can Google it.

Sorry, I guess I haven't helped that much .....

 

[Halite]

There is a place in New Paltz, which is south of the Catskills, so maybe too far out of your way. I've rented snowshoes from them in the 90's, and bought a few pieces of gear ...... I would think they have books, maps, and guides ....... but for the life of me I cannot remember the name of the place. Maybe you can Google it.

Sorry, I guess I haven't helped that much .....

The place in New Paltz is Rock and Snow.

44 Main St.
New Paltz, NY 12561
845.255.1311

But it's a bit out of the way for the Catskills-1/2 hour south of the Catskills and about 10 minutes off the Thruway.

There's an outdoor store just off HWY 28 on the right about 15 minutes from the Thruway--but I don't remember its name. I've stopped there for a butane cartridge and they seemed big enough to have maps. There's probably a store in Woodstock or Phoenicia that would have maps or guides as well.

 

[Jay H]

There is a Kenco right on Rt 28, about 1/4 mile from the NYS Thruway on the left. There is also a Hunting/Fishing store that has basic camping gear in Tannersville. There is also a similar one in Phoenicia too. However, they are mostly generic outdoors stores that may sell some basic supplies but aren't specific hiking or backpacking stores. Kenco is probably the biggest one that is more specific to hiking needs.

If you're coming from the PA or way NW NJ area, you can also check out the Catskill's Hiking Shack in Wurtsboro. Not really in the catskills and it just as far as New Paltz would be, but that is a good store, has good stuff and is knowledgeable.

Or if you're coming from NYC, there's always Campmor in Paramus or EMS there. There is also an EMS in Poughkeepsie east of the Hudson.

Jay

 

[Mark Schaefer]

I called Kenco. They said they had the 5 map set Catskill maps (pub by NY/NJ Trail Conference) in stock, but they do not carry hiking guidebooks. These maps have good trail descriptions on the back of each Tyvek map, and you could probably hike quite well with these maps alone.

In Kingston your best for bet for finding guidebooks may be the Barnes and Nobles on Route 9W, north of Kingston. From Thruway exit 19 go west on NY 28. Pass one traffic light and exit onto US 209 (north). The third exit will be US 9W (south). The Barnes and Nobles is at the fourth traffic light on your right/west. There is also a sporting goods store in that strip mall.

Other possibilities are the Waldenbooks in the Hudson Valley Mall. It is east of Route 9W. Any of the three traffic lights north of the Barnes and Nobles will take you up to the Hudson Valley Mall. Drive around to the back of the mall. Waldenbooks is near the food court and the Sears. There is also a Gander Mountain just north of the Hudson Valley Mall - I don't know if they carry guides/maps.

The most comprehensive Catskill guidebook (no topos are included) is the new 2005 edition of the ADK Catskill Trails book. I got mine from the ADK by weborder, and it arrived in 2 days by standard UPS. The Amazon and Barnes and Nobles websites are still showing the earlier edition, so I don't know if the new edition has made it into stores yet. If you cannot find that your next best choice would be the 2002 edition of the AMC Catskill Mountain Guide (which includes a paper topo map).

FYI Catskills are very dry currently. Carry plenty of water. The spring on Hunter Mt on the Becker Hollow connector trail was dry today. The spring near the Slide Mt summit had gone dry a few weeks ago, then started flowing again -- I suspect it is probably dry again. The foliage is mostly green at present.

 

[MattC]

Rock and Snow has been a staple of the Shawangunks rock climbing/hiking community for many, many years-they have a great selection of trailmaps and guides (not just for the Gunks!) and also have some excellent gear. Ariel Booksellers in New Paltz also usually has the NY/NJ Trail Conference Catskill maps. Catskill Hiking Shack in Wurtsboro is also a great little store. If either the Hiking Shack or R n' S is on your way, they're very deserving of support and I can almost guarantee you'd enjoy your visit. Both places are staffed by folks that really love the backcountry themselves.

If neither of these places is convenient, I'd go w/ Kenco or possibly one of the bookstores Mark mentions. The only other place I can think of that nobody mentioned is Cabin Fever Outfitters, which is a BC gear store right in Woodstock. I don't know it well, but I imagine they must have maps and books. Enjoy your visit to the Catskills and let us know how it went. They ain't as tall as the Daks or Whites, but they've got a charm all their own.

Matt

Links:

http://www.catskillhikes.com/

http://www.cabinfeveroutfitters.com/

http://www.rocksnow.com/

 

[Raymond]

Once again the VFTT community ccomes through. Thanks for all the help.

We're going to be staying with some old friends of Susan's in New Windsor I think she said, so I'll have to check the map to see what I can hit with the least Sturm un Drang.

 

[PINPIN JUNIOR]

Catskill 100 highest!!!

Hi everybody put a answer here..
Yes We will need a new challenge for the next winter and after (I hope We will finish with to many goals) the usual 46 Adk winter and other personnal challenge, We will attack Vermont 3k or Catskill 100 highest!!!
Hey! Tom Rankin may We will joint your effort to push a few snow and made a good snowshoes tracks!!! If You are interest stay in toutch with Junior.

Pinpin Junior.

 

[Rob S]

PinPin, it was real nice (and an honor ) to meet you on the trail to Cascade back in July 2004. My wife Carla was literally blown away by your speed. Keep us posted on your Catskill adventures, we'd love to join you on a hike, or at least help with a car shuttle.

Take care,

Rob

 

[mudhook51]

Another store with catskill books and maps might be the catskill commons next to the kalidscope(sp)). Rip van winkles in tannersville also had some maps and books at one time.