Got the Skillz to hike the Catskills?

“Sacco I will also be coming in on Friday night, let me call the rangers. I hope we can camp somewhere near the trail head.”

“cool.
is there is a campsite a mile or two down the trail?
i might be able to get there in the afternoon.”

“I'll probably get there early Saturday morning”

“Sacco - we'll be parking right at the Woodland Valley Camground, which is state run and will be closed for the season. Hopefully, it will be ok to pitch a tent there. The trail literally goes through the CG. The trail goes up right from the get-go and I don't recall seeing any decent campsites without going a few miles.

I'll most likely get there Friday night, and either camp in my wagon or hopefully in the CG. Let us know how you make out with that call, Lt.”

“I tried calling the campground yesterday and could get anyone to answer. They are now closed, I will try calling the DEC this week.
The only campsite on the trail is Terrace Mtn leanto which is about 3? miles into the hike with no water. I really don't think there will be a problem setting up camp in the campsites next to the parking lot, but I will call anyway. If anyone else wants to call today while I am at work the regional # is 845-256-3099

I think it is going to be a little chilly!”

“I just called. Camping is NOT allowed when the CG is closed for the season. According to the man I spoke to, the ranger will ask you to move if you camp there.
last edited: 10/12/04 8:18:28 AM”

“okey dokey.

from what i've seen all the DEC campgrounds are pretty much run the same way - after laborday they're left open with no fees or services.

i guess i won't rush to get down there in the afternoon.


EDIT: that's crap. any new plans for fri meetup ?
last edited: 10/12/04 8:18:23 AM”

“what about the kenny wilson CG near woodstock?”

“ain't that edit feature cool. It could be a CYA thing about not allowing off season camping. I can't imagine a small quiet site without a campfire causing a fuss? Maybe pitch a tent next to your car in the large hiker parking area? Worse case, they'll ask you to move, I would think. What do I know though. You could end up in Attica.”

“i'm too good lookin to go to prison.

i'll get eaten alive!”

“I need to shave some serious weight from my pack (don't know if I can unless someone else brings a tent or we do without a bear can).

But I'm in and will figure the rest out over the next month.

Kevin :)”

“Kevin you really shouldn't need a bear can I have never had a problem at Giant ledge.
I ain't carrying a tent, just a tarp.”

“i'm also tarping.

kevin, it shouldn't be too hard to ditch some weight. it's only one night.”

“Just chiming in to say.... YOU BASTARDS!”

“Hey - what's that hike like up to the campsite? Am I right - it's like 0.6 miles, but how much elevation gain?

I've dayhiked this whole 14 mile loop, Woodland to Woodland a few times, carryin' just water & a few snacks. But to do all the climbing, and most all the descending by the ~11 mile mark, with a pack containing winter camp needs, and then start climbing up to camp....whew!!

I know I'm gonna be a hurtin' pup!!

Maybe I'll cheat - sneak in, stash my gear there Friday night, and hike Saturday with an empty pack just to look good.”

“I believe it's around a 500' gain to Giant Ledge.”

“ooo 500ft in .8 miles I don't think I can do that! Will we need ropes?”

“absolutely no need for ropes for Giant Ledge, unless you want to rappel down some of the East facing cliffs.

Easy enough trail, a lot easier than going up Slide from Cornell.

Also easy from Giant Ledge to Panther.

The spring for Giant ledge is off the trail to the left just before the steep uphill. Apparently there used to be a lean to around there but it burned down and the Park decided not to replace it.”

“I think manuka missed LtHiker's sarcasm.”

“Actually Ski, the path to Panther goes about 25ft back from some spectacular cliffs, completely vertical at least 100ft.

I though of bringing a rope to rappel them on my first trip up there. Big trees very near the edge so easy to set up an anchor.

Probably 1/2 mile bush bash to get back to the trail at the base of the ledge.”

“Yeah - doesn't look bad at all - I got my fingers on a topo the other day - looks near flat for the first .5 mile in, then a short, fun scramble.

At the end of a hike, ya'll know how that last mile seems to go on forever. But a little rock scrambling sounds cool.

The only part about this loop I hate is comin' down Slide on that long, rock strewn road, tryin' not to twist an ankle. Almost makes doing the 1/4 mile on the higway a welcome break.

First long day hike I ever did was 14 miles in Telluride, Colorado about 12 years ago. We were struggling so bad that last mile, but the trail literally ended at the back door of a bar. Those "f"ers really know how to cut a trail over there!”

“What me sarcastic? I've been on this loop plenty of times.
If there was a bar on the road walk that would be sweet hmm I wonder if there is a spot in the creek on that road to stash some beers? Might have to look into that.
The cliffs on Giant Ledge are great, lots of nice ledges to sit on.
It is not much of a rock scramble to get up to Giant Ledge, especially after going up Slide.”

“Good chance I'll be able to make this trip. I can finally give Pennsy his radio back!”

“Cool Jmitch it is time for you to make another trip to the Catskills.”

“awesome. Blalock maybe coming on this trip too.”

“http://www.chayden.net/Catskills/Catskills.html#WCS


found this webpage on the loop, thought i'd share.”

“I'd like to come freeze my buttocks off with y'all but I'm afraid I now have other plans for that weekend.”

“plans bad - hiking good”

“No, I'm afraid plans are sometimes good also :)

Hiking good too though :)”

“day hiking the Fiery Gizzard trail instead? lol”

“Not exactly... Now what would give you that idea :)”

“southern women do things to you northern guys”

“Yeah, I noticed...”

“Ok, so since it looks like I'll be bringing Blalock up from Newark-Liberty Airport, we'll be coming by on Friday night sometime, depending on when Blalock's flight comes in. It's about a 2-hour drive from EWR, depending on downstate traffic...

C Ya there!”

“are we gonna be stashing our packs ahead of time off the road walk ?”

“No you wimp you must carry a full pack up and down the mountains!”

“I still need a lift from someone

I promise not to bail unless something for school comes up!”

“Twinkle I can give you a lift if you can get out of the city.”

“southern women do things to you northern guys”
Ewker
9:51:27 PM
10/18/04


“Yeah, I noticed...”
PhantomLostSoul
9:53:12 PM
10/18/04

just wondering if northern women have the same affect on us southern guys”

“I think you're confusing the issue Ewker - all attractive, smart, caring, fun-to-be-around women do strange things to all guys.”

“Where would I have to get to?”

“Bison, I have seen how you northern guys act around southern women. I think it is the accent that drives you crazy...lol

plus southern women aren't as cold as northen women are”

“Hey! It's hard to have a drawl when it's below 30 outside!

We wouldn't be so cold if we some manly men to snuggle up with in the winter ;)”

“"plus southern women aren't as cold as northen women are"

I can agree with you on that one.”

“Umm I don't know Kingston?”

“twinks, that wasn't what I meant by being cold. I think it is an attitude most northern women have. That attitude could come from the way guys treat ya though.”

“are we gonna be stashing our packs ahead of time off the road walk ?”
SacOSeveredHeads

“No you wimp you must carry a full pack up and down the mountains!”


i'll take that as a yes.”

“I can get up to Poughkeepsie but not Kingston (ya freak)”