Got the Skillz to hike the Catskills?

“then sign up for this trip and help me plan it. Right now the dates that are up are random and I am not sure where I want to hike. I am looking for those who want to join to help plan. I want it to be a buttkicker (sorry artex for the copyright infringement) though.

I was think that either the Devils Path or the Slide trail could be possibilities. Lemme know what ya'll think..

Rob”

“Sounds fun, but most all my trips will prolly be fairly local to the Carolinas for a while. New job is gonna be pretty serious for the first year or so, but most likely very rewarding too.”

“you have unlimited hiking down there at your disposal and you got the eastern high country too. no fair..

I'd love to live in Asheville”

“I'm pretty much done hiking for the year after mid October. That's when hunting season starts, so I spend most of my weekends in the fall doing that.”

“bump”

“zac if off to kill duh wabbitt, kill duh wabbitt.....”

“I'd like to do the Slide,Cornell, etc etc hike that Pennsy did a few weeks back. I want a hike with lots of ups and downs and scrambles. Is this the same one that you guys did back in May?”

“are you interested in this trip? Get some good hiking in in NY.”

“That's the best hike in the Catskills, IMO. Steep routes, some tricky scrambles, and fantastic views (especially on Wittenburg). Good choice! Have fun.”

“I dig the scrambles. Devils Path had some good scrambles, but from the pics looks like the Slide trail has better scrambles.

Hope people sign up ofr this trip”

“Aren't 11/15 and 11/16 a Monday and a Tuesday?”

“those were random days. It will be on a weekend. I want to see what weekend works best for everyone who is interested in doing the hike.”

“man i'd love to, but its probably not possible.

i am plannin on the Thanksgiving Johnny Cake trip though.”

“I put the dates as November 13th-14th for now. That is the second weekend in November.”

“That's tempting, but too far of a drive for me for a regular 2-day weekend, otherwise I would. Have a fun trip, and anyone who doesn't sign up and is in the area wouldn't know a good hardcore, peak-baggin' hike if it slapped'em in da face!”

“Thanks for the invite dude. My plans are way up in the air at this point. I won't be hiking until after Nov. 2nd, and have 3 days vacation left for the rest of the year. I'll be out on Turkey Day, somewhere, but may need to take vacation to head out west or down south. I'll keep checkin', and again, thanks for the invite.

BB”

“bump”

“I LOVE both these hikes.

The Wittenberg/Cornell/Slide/Giant Ledge loop:
Including Giant Ledge, this is about a 17 mile loop from the Woodland Valley CG, so no car shuttling needed. Fabulous views and some fun rock scrambling (moreso than the Devil's Path). The road walk (about 3/4mi) sux, but this is my favorite loop in the Catskills.

For an overnighter, where to camp will require a decision. The first campsites are in the col between Wittenberg and Slide, around 6 miles into the hike. Depending on what time you start, that could be a shortish first day and a long 2nd day. On the "blow up doll" trip, we did it as a 2 nighter starting Friday around midday, and camped in that col.

There's about 4 designated campsites in that col spread over a mile, to the base of Slide at 3500 feet. The sites are great but we barely found room for our 5 tents. Water could be scarce as well. If the stream crossing the trail is dry, a bushwhack down the Neversink River or hiking 3/4 the way up Slide to the spring will be necessary.

After the col, there really aren't many camping options until Giant Ledge, or on the trail just past the GL trail. There is a small site on the other side of Slide, but not big enough for a group.

If it were up to me, I'd start early on Saturday, and hike 13 miles (approx) to Giant Ledge. There is a spring nearby, some nice campsites, and the views are great. That would leave a 4 mile hike for Sunday, giving you time to stop at Sweet Sue's in Phoenicia for a fantastic but expensive breakfast.

The Devil's Path
It was a buttkicker and a 1/2 as a monster dayhike, but probably just as much as a buttkicker as an overnighter with backpacks. 25 miles over 7 peaks, and will require car shuttling. The terrain is steep and rocky, but the views are great.

Camping ideas:
The first campsite would be the Mink Hollow lean-to, about 9 miles into the hike. Ample water nearby, and a nice place to camp, but leaves a long 16 mile day for Sunday.

The next shelter is up on Hunter at the Devil's Acre lean-to. However, it's 15-16 miles into the hike. An option would be to skip Indian Head Mt at the beginning of the trip and go up the Jimmy Dolan Trail. That cuts out 3 1/2 miles, and makes a first day hike to Devil's Acre more doable.

Of course, halfway through the hike is the Devil's Tombstone CG where we camped in the summer. It's a state cg, and I don't know if it's open in November, or it's ok to camp there if it is off season.

In any case, I'll probably go where you decide.”

“thanks for the info.

I like the first idea with the 13 miles first day hike. Get most of the hiking done on day 1, get some food at Sue's and then have time to drive home and relax for the rest of the day.”

“here is a pic taken from the Devils Path on Plateau Mtn in the Catskills
Catskills from Plateau Mtn on the Devils Path”

“what the heck? 5 minutes ago, the link to your pic was there, but now it's just text. Hmmmmmm

I'm in for this trip. It will be my third time on Slide this year, but it never gets old.

btw - here's one of my favorite Catskills pics. Poor Pete just couldn't get up. Notice where his pack is, the Marge Simpson hat/hair, and everyone offering to help.”

“sounds good Pennsy. I am looking forward to this one. The scrambles look like a lot of fun.

I bet there will be some cool weather.”

“I got the skills
but I also got bills
(so no thrills in the hills)”

“http://community.webshots.com/album/141770891QBqlCT
and the..
Trip report thread.”

“SOMEBODY stop this renegade. He's gone beserk!

as far as weather, I imagine it can get quite cool up there in November. Who knows, maybe even some snow. Here's a pic from my April 2002 trip there. Middle of April and I wore crampons the entire time above 3000 feet.”

“trying to build excitment for this trip.”

“Not sure if I can go but does anyone have any pictures of the area?”

“does anyone have pictures of the area he asks???”

“I might have a few.
:D”

“This is a great loop, But I've been there done that. Hmm should I do it again?

What about reversing direction and camping between Slide and Cornell? Just a thought to change it up some. Or Start at Woodland Valley and go out over Panther? We would have to shuttle cars then but I've never been over Panther.”

“It has the potential to be very cold and windy at both of the proposed campsites. Snow is a possiblity that time of year also.”

“if you want to come feel free to get involved in the planning. This trip is for everyone that wants to go. I mainly just was a good tough march in the Catskills.”

“anybody hear from MFparker since the Devils Path trip?”

“i'd love to make it to this trip, but i'm not supposed to do a lot of hiking until they find out what's wrong with my leg. so depending on the status of that, i'm signed up as a maybe.”

“Thanks for the invite! Signed up as a maybe. All depends on homework, transportation, and the knee.”

“ENS - I haven't heard from MFP, but he only found TT cuz he wanted to do a Devil's Path hike. We may not see him here.”

“Hey - I haven't visited this site for quite a while - thanks Earth for digging me up and sending the invite.

I'm in as a maybe, but consider me a "probably". If LT brings his TurkeyTea, I may hafta upgrade to "definite"!

These are great trails! I wouldn't wanna go up Slide the dull, easy way, though. From Woodland is one of the funnest hikes anywhere.

No chance in November to find any water from the start of Wittenburg to the spring up on Slide. I'm up for the 13 miles to the spring at Giant Ledge - but in short November days we'd all better remember headlamps.

I've only day hiked parts of Devils Path, can't offer any input on camping/water.”

“MouseSpray! My goodness it's been awhile since we've seen you around here. Any more bear spray in the eyes stories to share?”

“Hey Twink - wassup?!

I've got a whole collection of stories for ya if ya make this trip.

Whadja do to your knee?”

“A year's worth of stories? Holy bonkers! Give me lift (I'm in Brooklyn now) and I'd be glad to make this trip. lol!

The knee...same old from the Whites trip...but it's getting better.”

“Well - when/if I can confirm that I'm in for this trip, I'll give ya a lift.

Nasty trails for a bum knee though... Sure wouldn't wanna see you in pain like the Whites again”

“TNT!!! If we can find enough water I'll bring the TNT”

“I'd like to go but it's too early to commit. I did the same hike with my wife some 25 years ago starting from the Winnisook Lake side. We parked at the trailhead for Giant Ledge and hiked down to Woodland Valley and then over Wittenberg and Cornell stopping in the cole between Cornell and Slide for the night. Then up over Slide and out on the second day. If I can swing it I'll sign up for the trip. I don't want to do that flip, flop thing again. Thanks for the invitation.
MFParker”

“Let's do the WCS all the way across on Saturday, come down to the Neversink Valley, cut over to the Phoenicia-East Branch (PE) Trail, and crash at Giant Ledge (Awesome campsite). It'll leave for an easy gentle 3.x (I forget the exact distance) mile downhill out on Sunday (except the stairs of DEATH!!!, but I don't think that would be a big deal).

I'm pretty familiar with that area, as the loop I mentioned above is quite possibly one of my favorite hikes anywhere, so that being said, I'm sooo in on this...”