Minnewaska State Park Preserve Info

“Planning on taking a small crew up to Minnewaska beginning on November. Am familiar with some of the trails but not many.

Can anyone recommend a particularily lovely hike of moderate level?”

“Try posting this question on Gunks.com discussion board.

There are a lot of people who hike and mountain bike there in addition to climbing and who know the area really well.”

“thanks - will do”

“Sooo, when did I come off -ignore- ??”

“I can put you back on if you like despite the fact you were never on my ignore list. Paranoid?
last edited: 10/18/04 12:37:54 PM”

“Hey Twinks....are you sure you won't bail on these folks?”

“:(

Awww come on Stratusloop, stop pickin' on me!


hehehe”

“Minnewaska is a small state park. Mohonk is private preserve nearby. Both have well marked touristy trails. Both are on the escarpment (cliffs) looking towards the "plains" of the East. Lots of Rock Climbers. Lots of good deep ravines. Easy trail walks but very dangerous off-trail as there are a lot of deep narrow ravines that you can't see covered with snow. LOTS of off-trail (protected) rattlesnakes in summer.”

“catskhiker - I have seen way more reports of copperhead sightings than rattlesnakes on Gunks.com ??”

“I don't know Manuka, the last time I was up there I saw three Timber Rattlesnakes and that was on the paved portions of path. Fortunately did not see any on the hiking trails but I'm sure they were there.”

“Cool, did you get any pix?

I have never seen a Rattlesnake in the wild.
Seen coral snakes, taipans, and adders in PNG, copperheads and a variety of non-venomous here in the US, but zero rattlers.”

“Unfortunately I did not get pictures. Took pictures but in B&W and then forgot to get the film developed. Dope! But that year they (Timber Rattlers) seemed to be everywhere. Saw one in Harriman, several in Minnewaska, and I think I also one in the Catskills somewhere...

They are really beautiful, the Timber variety - yellow/greenish and black. Blend in real well with leaf cover. Must remember to warn the younger newbies about that!

Growing up in NC I also saw a fair share of Copperheads, Cottonmouths, and Diamondbacks.....ugh..”

“Why ugh, I save that for the rats they eat.

Timber and Copperheads are fairly non-aggressive, as long as you see them in time.
I have read that cottonmouths are much more aggressive, any experience ??”

“Thankfully no!

I see a snake I ohh and ahh from a good distance away.


What/Where is PNG? Has to be somewhere tropical.”

“http://www.em.com.pg/

Did climb Wilhelm 14,797ft
Did walk kakoda track - 3.5 days not 8
Sailed most of southern coast from Gulf Province down to start of Louisade Archipeligo”

“sweet”

“The last time I heard there were no/few rattle snakes in the gunks, a knowledgeable co-worker went out in 5 mins (found one) Put it in a bag & tossed it in a room where 30 officers & skeptics were qualifying with multiple instruments of destruction. You would have seen 30 grown armed men try to squeeze thru an exit door at the same time. First hand knowledge - rattler dens in the gunks.

Don't see a rattler & point at it. They'll nail your finger like lightning. I've only found snakes to be aggressive in very hot weather & when you accidentally step on one. Of course when they rattle, you don't know which way to run. I?ve also found water snakes to be aggressive.

This guy is MY snake expert who I frequently consult as I am afraid of snakes.”

“Tongue Mountain in Lake George is also plentifull with Rattlers.”

“Catskhiker,

As stated I have never seen one, which is not saying they are not there, as I have not seen a copperhead at the Gunks either.

maybe it is because I am climbing and sh1t scared of heights so sort of concentrating on my immediate surroundings when on the rock, and looking up at the cliff to identify where I am when on the carriage path.

My comment was on reported snake sightings on Gunks.com.

Do remember a year or so ago when Mapleleaf 'won' a section of catskill trail to maintain there were several warnings about rattlesnakes in that section of the catskills.”

“Rattlers are pretty timid & the gunks are famous for rock climbers. That whole area gets heavy usage on the climbs & trails. Most are gone by night & the critters like their privacy. I'm also the only (I know of) that has lived in the catskills/adirondacks most of their life & never seen a copperhead. My knee collided with a small rattler in the ramapo's.

You start banging around (my love of walking stick vibrations) & most leave. My expert snake guy says it has to be at least 70 degrees with no wind to be active. Of course, I have seen them on a sunny rock surrounded by snow. Don't know how it got there but real sluggish.

The forest rangers get cranky with pistol packin vol firemen whenever there's a brush fire there. I know they're protected (only god knows why) but they scare me pretty good.

One of my childhood friends use to shake a large rattler's tail every time I sat down on a rock, just to watch me jump 3 feet into the air.

The trail section that was worked on by the TT's definetely has rattlers, but mostly in the quarries.”

“What a beautiful day for a little dayhike!

On Sunday, my friends and I took a leisurely stroll through Minnewaska. Didn't really get a buttkicker in but the one newbie in the group is hooked and wants to do more challenging hikes and even some snowshoing with me in the winter! Yippie!

We did the Sunset Path and part of Peter's Kill. Spent quite a bit of time admiring Awosting Falls, Lake Minnewaska, and of course for me, all the signs of glaciation & other such rock stuff. :)

Anyway, the animal life was scarce. Was hoping to see a Timber Rattler sunning on one of the rocks. No luck. Only saw a deer on the way down the mountain.

These two trails (one was actually a path) are easily accessible and a bit too crowded for me liking. But hey, it was beautiful and a good introduction for my friends to NY area hiking. Bring on the future TT'ers!

Will post pictures later”

“Am at the Gunks often as I am a climber - have also mtn biked and hiked exstensively in the area. There is quite a bit of wildlife in the area - have seen a bobcat on the trails around Lake Minnewaska and have run into a number of Copperheads in the Near Traps. AM sure that your patience will be rewarded.

have a swell one > John”

“It's not likely you'll see a rattlesnake in upstate NY in November. It's possible but HIGHLY unlikely. Try July/August.

If you snowshoe, I would suggest staying on the trail in the gunks. Lots of deep crevices there. You wouldn't be the first that was never found.”