Fall into the Catskills

“I know this is way off into the future, but I'm claiming dibbs on the Devils Path in October. Excellent trail, even better views, though I must warn y'all, it is a physically demanding trail that requires use of hands and feet in several places. Hiker discretion is strongly advised. ;~)

That being said, if you think you've got what it takes, go to the trips page, sign up, and bring it! Hope to see ya there!”

“I put my self as a maybe, but I'm sure that I'll be along for this mad dash in the woods.”

“What? You didn't learn your lesson last time? You can't dance with the devil twice and live to tell about it. This is a great trail, but it will kick your ass! Too far away for me to be a definite, but I'm sure when the time comes, I'll be there.”

“If the trail is going to kick my ass, then I'm in! Well as a maybe anyway. It's too far off for me to be able to say I'll definitely be going.”

“You can't really say that you have done the "Path" until you do it as a day hike.

Just kidding it will kick your ass as a three day. I did it a couple years ago with a very heavy pack and even though the miliage looks short it does kick your ASS! The climbs are not as bad as the descents, and the climbs are pretty nasty.”

“I'm assuming this hike would be similar to the ADK Great Range in difficulty, right?”

“I think there is going to be a dayhike with avengance on this the Devils Path in June. I'd like to attempt it as a dayhike and finish it. Last year a bunch of us tried, three of us successfully and the rest of us got to the halfway mark. I was in the group that made it halfway. Even getting to the halfway point was an arse kicker. The ascent down off of Plateau is one of the hardest descents I have been on. It's not real steep, but it's full of lose rock and is steep enough it makes you want to run, but you have to hold yourself back because of the rocks.”

“I'm keeping this on the down low, but I put up Devils Path Revenge dayhike trip for the first weekend in June if anyone is interested.

It'll be the same deal as last year.”

“too far in advance to give a solid answer, but i'm interested.”

“nice hike. I think there could be some cool parts to do in the winter too.”

“Glad to see the response.

LZ, I'm not sure how the Devil's Path compares to the Great Range trail -- it's definitely not as high, but then again, the Devil's Path isn't so much about the elevation as it is about the constantly repeating ultra-steep 1000+ ft rises and drop-offs, as the cols/notches between each of the peaks are much deeper than your typical Northeastern mountain range.”

“this trip is from de debbil!”

“I don't know about the day hike thing, if I'm drivin' up there, and pounding out those peaks, I want a bag night out of it. (or two?)”

“there would be two bag nights.”

“Last time we car camped at Devils Tombstone campground with weird rangers 0ne and his brother weird ranger two. It makes a great base camp since it is almost in the middle of the hike and makes a great lunch/resupply/bailout spot.”

“If you do the day-hike thing, don't count on really seeing anything. I mean, even in the height of the long summer days, you need every second of daylight you have to complete the 26-mile roller coaster.

For now, I think I'll pass on the day hike. I'd rather take shorter sections of it and stop and hang out at the cool views.”

“Yes, that's the true spirit of Christma...er..uh hiking. Haul ass when you have to, but most of the time, enjoy the trail, and take it all in.”

“I'm really looking forward to this trip - never been in the Catskills before and I've heard this is a really cool trail - BUT I have zero interest in pounding out 26 hard up and down miles in a single day - that's not even remotely close to my idea of fun.”

“The Day hike is more of a challenge than a "fun" hike. But I had lots of fun on my attempt last June.

I will probably do the 3 day trip also it is just a different kind of challenge.

For those of you that are considering this trip I would recomend going as light as possible. There are leantos but like usual you can't count on getting in them. Water is pretty plentiful after Mink hollow. Some of the climbs are pretty challenging but not terrible. The descents are what will get most people.
The veiws are awesome! Watch out for the porcupines at Devils Kitchen leanto.”

“Porcupines - the little pricks!

Light is right!”

“I guess I'll leave the cast iron dutch oven at home then.”

“the trip this thread is for is the October trip which is a three day trip. There is a trip scheduled in June for the same trail which is a dayhike. Two different trips. Both will be fun and I'll probably do both.

The dayhike is a challenge. We tried it last year and only three of us succeeded. This is an attempt at trying it again.

I'm looking forward to the October Trip very much. It'll be nice to see this trail in the fall. It will also be nice to take it easy on this trail.”

“Roam, you will love this trail. It's a lot like the Black Mountain Crest Trail and in many ways even more difficult.”

“I've never been to the catskills. Sounds like fun :)”

“Why don't you and CMB pack up the car and come on out for this one? It would be nice to finally meet the two of yous. And, the trail is incredibly scenic.

I gotta warn ya though, they don't make hills like this in Indiana; this trail throws around 1000-ft rises and drops like it's nobody's business...

Here are my pictures from when I did a portion of the Devil's Path back in October.”

“Ah...memories, That was the hardest, most scenic, and most enjoyable hike I've every been on.
last edited: 1/31/05 6:01:52 PM”

“that's an endorsement!”

“
Jmitch on the very steep (knee jerker) descent off of Sugar Loaf.

a rock scramble on the climb up to Sugarloaf.

The westward view from Indian Head

The southwest view from Plateau Mountain.”

“Hey,
Very cool. I signed up for the dayhike. If I survive, I'll be back for this trip.”

“Those pics are awsome.”

“Wow, altimus, you're tripping signing up happy aren't you? That's ok, a couple weeks ago, I was trip planning organizor happy.”

“You're right. Can't wait to hit the trails.
How many trips have you organized ENS?”

“right now my pending trips are:
-
West Rim Trail (PA) - this coming weekend
North Fork Mountain Trail (WV) - 3/18-3/20
Black Forest Trail (PA) - 4/1- 4/3
Old Rag - White Oak Canyon - Shenandoah NP (VA) - 4/10-4/11
Devil's Path Dayhike (NY) - 6/4
-
I'm sure I will plan more too. I'm holding off for now until these trips come and go.”

“Dude, you had this like explosion of trips. I remember one night my hiking calendar was totally clear, and a couple hours later it was like booked out thru July...”

“Hmmm, VA and WV aren't that far :-)
How long does it take to drive over there?”

“Depends on where in WV. Dolly Sods in Northeast WV takes me about 5 hours to get to.

Trail Days in Damascus, VA (near Tennessee) takes about 10 hours.

Everything else is somewhere in between.”

“Pack'em up an' move'em out!”