Another Catskill Mountain Winter Slog Ja nuary '07

“I wonder what time Sweet Sues opens up, maybe if we don't get too drunk Friday night, we can wake up early and have breakfast at Sweet Sues or that Bagel Shop In Hunter is really Yummy too! Crazypace can vouch too! I'd say that was the best breakfast sandwhich I have ever had, hands down and their coffee was really good too!”

“May still head up tonight. Started snowing here in MD.”

“I wish I were off tomorrow Jack, I'd head up with you and do Blackhead. If you head up tonight, where are you going to stay? Batava Kill? Take your crampons and ice axe just in case. The climb up Blackhead will be interesting. You can probably go down the other side on the Black Dome Trail and make it a loop.

Are you going for all three of the Blackheads? When Todd and I went up last February, we night hiked into the BK lean-to, left our packs there and dayhiked up to the peaks and came back down and got our packs and headed out. Once you're over Blackhead, the other two peaks are fairly easy. We took our crampons off after descending into the col between Blackhead and Black Dome and never put them back on. You'll probably only need the crampons for getting up Blackhead.”

“have fun and be safe.

There is an awesome bagel shop in Hunter if you're looking for a place to get some breakfast Friday morning. It's right next to the gas station (Valero) in town (almost right across from the entrance to the ski area.

their breakfast sandwhiches are amazing! Crazypace can atest. Best ever! I think the sign just says bagels or something like that. If you see Gerry, say hi!
last edited: 1/25/07 4:56:08 PM”

“Bearpen definitely does not have a canister, but Vly does.”

“Umm, hello?”

“hey dude, you heading up to the 'skills with us this weekend?”

“We really would like to go but it's not a definite just yet.

LMG is a bit concerned about the cold but I don't trust those charlatan weathermen. It's car camping for Pete's sake :)”

“I'm doubling up on sleeping bags and taking lots of clothes. We'll be able to make a big fire and plus, we don't have to cook, cuz there are restaurants with in walking distance... Tasty grub to be had. Also tasty New York Micro Brew called Capital mmm mmm mm.

It is going to be cold though. Not as bad as they were predicting earlier this week. The windchill looks nasty tomorrow night.

Poor Jackstraw is going hiking tomorrow in that nasty windchill.”

“Ouch!
You're twisting my arm, please don't stop ;p


Yup, Jackstraw's got the fever too.”

“i am driving up friday afternoon from staten island, with a long stop at campmor. should be at the black bear campground by sunset.

i have a blue-green Prius, and my cell # is 917-733-2368. see you there.”

“GreenMonkee if your worried about the cold stop by the black bear for some more zesty (5 ALARM) marinara sauce.”

“cool beans marraman. you'll probably be the first one there. Have a good fire ripping and roaring for us! I am going to be arriving between 8 and 9.

I can't wait for some Texmex at the Alamo Saturday night.

Everyone know how to get to the Black Bear Campground?

Exit 19 off 87 take 28 towards Woodstock/Phoenicia. Continue on 28 around 20 miles or so until you get to Rt 214 and take a right into Phoenicia. Stay on Main Street and the Black Bear is on the opposite end of the town (which isn't very big).

There are better probably directions on the website which is posted on the trip page.

---

here are the directions from the webpage, including the CG phone number.
-
New York Thruway to Exit 19

West onto Route 28 for 25 miles.

Exit off Route 28 at the Phoenicia Town Sign onto Bridge Street.

Turn right directly after the bridge into our Entrance.

Park and go directly to our office. If you have any problems, stop and give us a call for further directions !

845-688-7405

----

Remember, it is $10 per person, per night. So for two nights, it's $20 per person.
last edited: 1/25/07 6:18:53 PM”

“Hey, we eating at Sweet Sues on saturday morning or do I have to pack a breakfast ??

6lbs of pancakes can get you over alot of peaks !!!!

plus they got real good coffee!!”

“I'd just as soon grab a bagel to go or something. I'm not a big eater before hiking, but I'll stop at Sue's if we get there early enough. We have a big day ahead of us.

I'll see y'all tomorrow night if I'm not a popsicle from xc skiing in the Dacks.”

“Brrr... it's cold out!

I'M NOT GOING!!!!!”

“hAhA!!!!

Wilbur made me do it! He brought over his Coleman lantern for us to borrow. I'll be up at the Black Bear sometime between 6-9, and that sounds like a pretty darn good place to be!
:p”

“If you were a real pope man, you'd meet me at the Cascade XC ski center. It's 9 below right now, not even 9pm. Woohoo, FYAO is gonna feel like being on the beach.

btw - I'm bringing my white gas lantern as well. We'll light up the whole campground.”

“when are you heading to the dacks Pennsy?”

“Believe you me I wish I wuz headin' up the Daks wit you Mr Peensy!!! My skis will be taking the ride anyway, hey, A guy can dream, right?!?
Moooohaahaahaahahahahahaahahaaha
DA POPE IS STOKED!!!! Can't wait to see you freaks!!! Go ask Alice
I think she'll know.....”

“ENS, I plan to drive part way, sleep then drive the rest of the way to arrive at trailhead in the AM. I'm going the BD trail into the Col then up Blackhead then retrace and up Blackdome (and TC if I have the time and depending how I feel.) SOund good?

Hey Marraman,
Silver Chevy Aveo Dead sticker on back. I hope to be on the trail by 10AM. and in a warm bar by early evening.

Cell signal in Pheonecia is spotty at best, nonexistant at worst.”

“sounds like a good plan... stay warm, if you got a neck gaitor, tomorrow is a good day to have it. Maybe put a bandanna over your mouth and nose and wear a warm hat. see ya tomorrow night!”

“Slight change of plans.
Just found out they may need me to work this weekend.
I need to wait and see. I'll know by Noon Friday.

My car is loaded. It pains me to bail if I have to. Either way I'll let you know. : (”

“I'm outta here in a few minutes. It's 11 below in Lake Placid right now and 25 below with wind chill. Did someone say oonga boonga?”

“Still don't know if we are going to make it or not. GM was feeling sickly this morning...after trying to say I am worried about the cold. He neglected to mention it's because I'm lacking in really-cold-weather-hiking clothes.

Anyhoo - at this point, whether or not we go will depend on how he feels by the time he gets out of work.”

“stay warm Pennsy!

may the force be with you LMG and GM!”

“GM & LMG, You guys need some gear ??????

Make a list. I bet I can provide for both from my well stocked "Crazypace basecamp"

Ps: No joke, I can. Just dont burn the mittens. :0”

“Oh yea, and I have Green Monkee's favorite chair he can use.”

““GM & LMG, You guys need some gear ??????

Make a list. I bet I can provide for both from my well stocked "Crazypace basecamp"

Ps: No joke, I can. Just dont burn the mittens. :0

Bwahaha! I need new mitts & booties but a pit stop at Campmor will fix that temporarily. :) I've got plenty for camp...it's just the warm & weatherproof hiking pants I need to get. He's all set, methinks...but thank you very much for the offer. :)

If he doesn't feel better, or feels worse, by the end of the day - I doubt we will make it up there anyway. :(

If you put the chair on a hill, don't let ENS near it.”

“DAMN! That Pennsy Dude is probably schussing right now and I'm stuck at work, shopping for sleeping pads with the Queen DORK Asher-Muthuh! I'm ready to bag outta town as soon as I get home and get the last of things in the truck. Black 4 door Silverado with PA tags. Hmmm, doesn't look like it's going to be a very productive day at work >8-]

I really hope jackstraw, GM & LMG can swing this. Harry - bummer about those last minute calls from the Man, the B^&$%*@! - C'mon LMG, put on a pair of long undies and polartec and start packin', I'm sure the Monkey is feeling better as we post!!!

It's the "who has the coolest balaclava weekend"!!!”

“It's the "who has the coolest balaclava weekend"!!!”
Capn Bobo
10:02:17 AM
1/26/07
ignore this user
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Or warmest!”

“Jackstraw -

I wanna buy YOU a Capitol!!!”

“Jackstraw...after this weekend may be changing his name to Jackfrost. :)

We would need to pack...but it's car camping, so it's easy. :) Throw everything in the car and drive. Sort it out later.

Bobo - how about the coolest baklava instead? :)
”

“so you guys in? eh?

Harry is coming... he's here at my place and we will be leaving for the Crazypace Compound impound with in the hour.”

“OHHHHH BAKLAVA!!!! I Would sell my Mama down the river for some good baklava, oh yeah! Actually, I've never had baklava that wasn't good!
- Tell me where and I'll buy us both a double slice!!!
:]

- yeah, just throw three of everything in the car, you kids will be fine... wimp-camping RAWKS!!!! and if one of us forgets something, I'm sure there will be at least two other boneheads who will have extras, well, except for ladies undies of course, which at least Pennsy should be carrying a few extra pairs!
;-D”

“speaking of boneheads, where has jmitch been these days?”

“Listening to Bobo going on and on about this weekend is making me trail-horny! I have to work this weekend, thus will be unable to satisfy my lust for the mountains.

To placate myself, I did what I usually do in this case...buy some toys. mooohahahaaaaa

New Mountain Harwear Shell...check!
New Insulmat sleeping Pad....check!
New "canine cuddler" sleeping bag for Asherdog...check!

Bobo made me do it...”

“I only buy what Pennsy has, so he can whine about it.”

“http://www.campsaver.com/product.php?cid=934&pid=71870p

Only $109 to be like Pennsy. Freakin' great price! ;)”

“Wowza, am I beat-up and run down! It was a fantabulous weekend, Friday night's FYAO-like cold was hard to shake off and the bushwhack on Saturday was nothing to sneeze at, fer sure! I'll leave the brutal details to our fearless "soon-to-be 30" Trip Leader! I really enjoyed hanging with the gang, Marraman, it was great to meet you and I hope you didn't mind me busting into your tent at Midnight to get some candid photos (congrats on your first TT hike, it was really kick-@ss)! lilmountaingirl, it was really kewl to meet you too, you ARE the cat's meow!!! The rest of you boneheads... thanks for the awesome adventure! It was good to get home, get cleaned up and pass out on the couch! I have now officially dropped 20 pounds (thanks to ENS's Lunatic Tours!) since I've been "in training"!
- that's alot of exclamation marks, ain't it?!?

PICS comin' up!!!
last edited: 1/28/07 5:04:29 PM”

“Yo Bobo! You missed a great breakfast at Sweet Sue's this morning.”

“Let's begin with these incredible movies!

Ode to Gemini

Bobo's a Jerk III

Fire Fart”

“Got home OK. Awesome weekend! Props out to Senor Marraman for Bushwacking his way to his first two 35er's in the Catskills. Great hanging with all you guys. I'll post more later.”

“Had a great time on this trip!
Psycho ice axes, hiking with heroin, T 'n T & beer, freezing temps, Bizzaro TT'ers, Sweet Sue's, scrambling, bushwhackin', Disco Inferno, CrazyPace's garbage bag pants, Bobo gettin' naked...what more could you ask for on a trip!?!”

“


Here's the Picture Link!
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/557277949CGqmSd”

“Good looking bunch a Boneheads !!”

“Awesome pics there CApn. Howd ya like the Jams on the way Home?”

“So did you guys get all the peaks you were going for?”

“we got North Dome and Sherrill before retreating back to the Black Bear Campground.

It was a fun hike. Lots of good scrambling and some pretty wintery scenery up top, 'specially on the western faces. The col between North Dome and Sherrill is really cool.

Capital Beer is really good but not worth $14 a bleepin pitcher. A 12 ounce burger is a big burger.

The Blackbear still rules (not the campground, although that is ok, makes an ok basecamp). the bathroom was nice and warm.

Friday night was a good party. Saturday night was fun too.

It was friggin freezing Friday night Mr. Bigglesworth.

Halcott, Vly and Bearpen will have to wait for another weekend.

Sunday, Jackstraw and I checked out some waterfalls in Delaware River Water Gap NRA, including Dingmans Falls, highest in PA. Very cool ice formations. Makes me think though, that Ricketts Glen may not be ready for ice climbing just yet.

Pennsy's fish rock/ice scrambling technique is noteworthy. Too bad no one had their cameras ready..

Not too much bow chicca chicca bow wow on the summits this go around.

When to return to the Catskills?

Sweet pics Bobo!!!

btw ~ how were the take home capitals?
last edited: 1/29/07 5:51:50 PM”

“LT - We knocked out North Dome and Sherrill, but I figured ENS might want to write up the TR.

jackstraw - The jams home were AWESOME! thank you, thank you, thank you! It's been a long time since I listened to that much Dead and I was Grateful the whole ride home! Didn't know they did a cover of Big River, my fav Johnny Cash tune, yeah!

I'm also wondering when lilmntgrl saw me nekkid? Must've been when I was hungover on Saturday, but I thought you guys were on the other side of the truck, lol!”