Catskills Peak Bagging trip, Balsam Mtn

“Ok this trip was cancelled due to illness and lack of participation. But it is back! This should be a great trip to add Balsam Lake Mtn, Graham and Doubletop to your Catskills peak list.

It should be a fairly easy hike into Balsam lake leanto and Balsam lake Mountain with an easy "bushwack" over to Graham and then a moderate bushwack over to Doubletop.

Everyone is invited!”

“I am a maybe for that”

“Sounds good Manuka, Hopefully we will still have some snow around for it.”

“Hey LT... I went looking for you guys on Sunday morning with coffee and donuts but no one was parked at the trail head so I assumed you had already left. I am heading up there to a friends property to camp out late Friday night and an going to snowshoe Saturday into the fire tower and possibly if time permitting Graham but not sure my fat a** is up to that. I will let you know what I find and hopefully I can join you all in March.

JackCanine”

“Yeah sorry about that Jack thanks for the thought. Too many people bailed on the trip, actually everyone but me, and I didn't think that a solo would be smart in that weather.”

“Are you planning to base camp at the lean-to and day hike the hills ?”

“Yes, I plan to get to the leanto Friday afternoon and lay in a good supply of firewood. Then Saturday depart fairly early to get Graham and Doubletop. We might even save Balsam Lake Mtn for Sunday, i might hike up on Friday depending on what time I get there.”

“We'd be going over Balsam Lake Mtn to get to Graham. Unless, you are planning on hiking down to the Dry Brook Ridge trail and back up? The hike down from camp to the DBR is only about .4 of a mile, but it's a steep 600' drop to 2900 feet. Then you have to hike up to 3300' to the Graham herd path.

From camp to Balsam Lake Mt summit, it's just a bit over 200' and then a 400' descent to Graham herdpath. I think that might be the easier route, don't you?”

“Easier?

Wuss.”

“Coldfeet is coming over late tonight and we are going to crash a freinds property up by Balsam Lake Mtn. We were thinking of going in from the Beaver Kill Road side and doing the fire tower loop on Saturday but are toying with giving Graham a try...any idea how long that would take on snow shoes from the fire tower over to Graham? Any thoughts would be appreciated. I have no crampons but do have MSR snow shoes so I hope it will be ok. I am a maybe for the second attempt but hope to join you all.

JC”

“Jack - I've never been up there. My info is from the Topo and from bits and pieces I pick up over on Views From the Top. From the Tower to the Graham herdpath, it's about .8 miles with a 400' drop. It's an established trail so if it's broken, it should be pretty easy.

The path to Graham is supposed to be an old logging road, so hopefully there won't be any bushwhacking. It's about 1.8 miles. Elevation at the head is about 3300' with a drop to around 3100-3200 before the final climb to 3868'.

I wish I had first hand info. That's the best kind, so I guess you're the guinea pig. Have fun! :o)”

“is this Artex dude a new guy?”

“I will report back and let you know what we find. Good to here from you and maybe we can hook up on the second try. I always hesitate because you guys are young and fast and I am old and slow...but much wiser...lol. I hope all extremities will be working in the AM. Later

JC”

“Lol, Jack you must never have met the old fart, um I mean Pennsy.”

“HEY!! I met Jack on the Ithaca trip, mister. It's better to be an "old and fast Pennsy" than a "young and slow LtHiker." Pffffffffftttttttttt!!”

“So...I met Coldfeet (from the other board and a freind) late Friday night and we made camp and were crashing in the tents by midnight in -5 weather. Saturday we were at the trail head ny 9:30 only to discover NO-One had been there in weeks so we (he) were breaking trails in 16" of powder. In 6 hours we made it to the Balsam Mtn. Lean To and back. I am sucking wind and ready for bed. Sorry Coldfeet for slowing you down but another bag night and a great day to walk in the wooods.

JC”

“Pennsy I didn't question the fact that you were a fast hiker.”

“Pennsy I didn't question the fact that you were a fast hiker.”

“Sure...today its 40degrees (dont know how to make those small o's) and I'm home sick....ya dont think it has anything to do with sleeping out Friday night as my wife is trying to imply..naaaaaaaaaaaa

JC”

“Of course your wife is wrong, Jack. That clean cold fresh air is good for you. You probably caught something when you returned to germ infested civilization.

Thanks for the report. That had to be brutal breaking trail in that snow, especially the final push to the lean-to. Is it as steep as it appears on the map?

Stop stuttering, Lt.”

“Funny it was a constant incline up to the lean-to and we quit with about 200ft to go before it leveled off but that 200ft is pretty steep. I have done this loop and the trail over from Alder lake but only in the summer. This kicked my ass but I was happy with making the lean-to but felt bad for Coldfeet who is looking for peaks, I should have sucked it up but maybe next time. BTW we ran into a very nice young couple who were doing Graham and we saw them on the way out and they did not summit either so (as bad as it sounds) I felt better.

JC”

“That short hike up to the leanto really sounds like a bear. I can't wait!

Jack it is this heat wave that got you sick. I was actually outside in a sweater sweating at 32* it was crazy. I almost felt like turning on the AC in the car. I guess that is what happens when you work outside in 5* weather for a week. I think of it as practice for FYAO.

Damn stuttering!”

“Anyone else interested?”

“Ok the trip is getting closer Manuka and Climbhi where are you?

Anyone else interested? It is going to be one of the last "Winter" hikes.”

“Bump”

“I don't have to work Saturday, and wheel is getting better every day, so I am in.

I have to work Friday, but I can probably get to the trailhead by 7 Fri night. Lt- did you use the directions posted by Catskhiker on the last trip thread?

edit - now that I think of it, you never got up there, right?
last edited: 3/16/05 2:30:14 PM”