Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide (Sat. Feb. 25, 2006)

[askus3]

See the attachment with my hike report and a link to my photos from this trip. Successful hike enjoyed by all. All particiapants were VFTT members! Jay H, TMax, imarchant, Pudgy Groundhog, Steve (what is your VFTT name?) & me (Askus3).

 

[CrisisBill]

I'm so sorry I missed this, happy to hear that all went well.
Excellent TR and photos!

 

[MattC]

Sounds like a nice hike. I did manage to get out yesterday in the Shawangunks, climbing Sky Top from Butterville Rd., which is about 1300' elevation gain. There was just very mild soreness in the ankle/foot from time to time, but overall it feels pretty well. I probably would have been fine up in the Catskills, but I figured it made sense to just test the ankle out first. The hike I was doing was only 5 miles from my house, so it wouldn't have been a major investment of gas and time to get there if I had to turn back. It was nice to get up there anyway, since I haven't hiked in the Shawangunks all winter.

I was up in the Smiley tower around 1:30ish and I could clearly see Slide and the rest of the southern Catskills flank, so I figured you guys must have had some views. The ceiling seemed to be high enough to clear all the peaks, except Hunter, which was just kissing the bottom of the clouds. It was very windy on Sky Top, as is usually the case-I imagine it must have been quite windy up in the Catskills as well. I hung out in the tower a while enjoying the view and trying to give off good vibes in your direction.

Sounds like the trail conditions up on the Burroughs Range were pretty much identical to when Jay, Dax, Guiness and I hiked up there last February. It seems the deep snow sticks around in the Cornell-Slide col. Nice that you got all that crampon practice. That range is one of the few places in the Catskill that they are really an absolute must, especially the Cornell chimney. Although it seems like there's been more crampon usage throught the Catskills this year due to the weird winter. Anyhow, congrats.


Matt

 

[coldfeet]

Great report, thought about you guys yesterday, I'm still new to crampons....I fell a few weeks ago on Westkill on my back and it's still soar, hope your ok..

 

[Jay H]

yes, it was a great day for hiking... The only real snow we encountered was some nice snowdrifts between Slide and Cornell as expects and certainly not enough for me to consider snowshoes to be useful. A lot of the ledges and chutes are a lot easier to climb with crampons than snowshoes cause it's pure ice and some narrow spots, especially the chute on Cornell and the ledges on Slide. Slide was beautiful cause it cleared up and the sun was out and it isn't as windy as on Wittenburg.

Today, I went hiking in Foothills Park in Pequannock/Riverdale area just to explore the park I've never been too... As you can see, it's 11:30pm and I'm finished, so a short hike! I tackle my basement this afternoon!

Jay

 

[imarchant]

Very enjoyable hike. Nice report Aaron, one small correction, Steve and Jay where in the front most of the time. I found myself in the middle most of the time. here are my pictures

 

[coldfeet]

nice pics imarchant, happy b day!

 

[Doodles]

As coldfeet said. Happy Birthday imarchant and nice pictures.

askus3,
You said you waved to us over on the Blackhead Range, but after seeing the fog in the pictures, I know why we didn't see you all and wave back. Nice trip report.

George

 

[TMax]

The Burroughs Range is always a great hike with fun challenges along the way. I almost always feel humbled by the Cornell chute and the two tough slabby sections up Slide. Yesterday was no different. A few choice explicatives managed to find their way out of my mouth . Thanks everyone for a great time and the helping hands on the rough sections!

Askus, you left Jay out of the participant list in your trip report. Is this cuz he was always so far ahead you forgot he was there?

Happy Birthday Ian!!

 

[hikethe115]

I'm glad it cleared up for you to get some of the great views from that range. It's a wonderful hike, although I have yet to do it in that direction. Last year we did it right after about a foot of fresh powder had fallen. It made it a lot of fun.

Now you have the experience with the crampons. The other place in the Catskills that almost always needs them in winter is most anywhere on the Devil's Path. I hope you will continue with the winter hiking. The Catskills are a great place to hike in the winter.

 

[pudgy_groundhog]

Nice trip report and pictures. Thanks for organizing Aaron -- it was a great hike!

 

[Fu Jow Pai]

Sounds awesome, I'm planning on doing the same hike before the official end of winter. Ever-so-slight concerns about getting the Jack Russells up the Cornell shoot, but after yesterday, feeling confident with Dogs/Ice/leges (see my trip report) for Sun 2/26.

 

[TMax]

Ever-so-slight concerns about getting the Jack Russells up the Cornell shoot,

I would be a little more than ever-so-slightly concerned... Besides the chimney, there are the couple of ledgey spots going up Slide that can be tough too. They are prolonged spots where you would have to break up the climb into sections with the dogs... how are they with staying still on the middle of a ledge until you can spot them the rest of the way? I had a hell of a time with my dog in summer over those spots (again, he's 90 pounds, makes helping him up and down a little tougher than your buddies) and he just doesn't go with me anymore on that hike. He never could have made it this weekend!