Another Catskill Mountain Winter Slog Ja nuary '07

“Plan is to arrive Friday night and car camp at the sites off of Rt. 28 in between Phoenicia and Rt 42.

Saturday bag North Dome, Sherrill and Halcott.

Sunday bag Bear Pen and Vly.

These are all trailess peaks.

Vly and Bearpean are the easiest of the 3500 peaks.

Should be totally doable and totally fun.”

“since we'll be so close to Phoenicia, think of the pub opportunities at night. Capitols!!!”

“Are you sure we can get all of these in one weekend ?
Plus - Weather ?? Snow ??
Better have a doable back-up plan.”

“Better have a doable back-up plan.”
CrazyPace
11:27:59 AM
12/19/06

I thought this was his backup plan:

"since we'll be so close to Phoenicia, think of the pub opportunities at night. Capitols!!!”
EarthNsky
9:31:31 PM
12/18/06”

“Plans A and B involves Capitols?

I'm IN.”

“if we can't get em all, we'll get what we can.”

“As long as theres beer.

I'm in too.”

“beer and good tex-mex food at the Alamo in Phoenicia is definitely part of the plan.”

“The weather and trail conditions will decide if this is doable.”

“entirely... I am saying in normal conditions, I think this is doable.”

“if the weather or conditions prevent all the peaks, we could get North Dome and Sherril in one hike and Halcott as another. That is another plan I had. It'd be sweet if we could get Vly and Bearpen as well.”

“I hope it snows alot so we can try out the new boots. Thats if I can choose a pair by then.”

“yeah, that's what I am hoping too.

I talked to Pennsy tonight and he gots some new gear....

I also talked to one of the owner's with RMI and he was a real nice and helpful person. I went over the gear I had and intend to take to Rainier this summer and he said it sounds quite adequate, including my down coat. He said in the case that it is not, the guides check the gear on the training day and I would have to rent.

I do need goggles and glacier glasses and I want to get new gaitors.”

“You know I'll be there if I can. Beer and wood fired oven pizza in Phonecia. MMmmmmm...”

“heck yeah and that can be Friday and Saturday nights. we can really rough it on this trip!”

“I like Phoenicia.

Phoenicia: The place you can go sit in one restaurant and order food from another.”

“You know it girl!”

“where is LThiker?”

“I'm watching you. I am lucky to get one trip a month and I was planning the ADK trip. This trip is really tempting since I need all of these peaks. Actually if we could figure a way to get Rusk then I think it would finish my Catskill 3500.”

“I thought you needed Panther and Balsam too. I don't know how I can remember everyone's peakbagging lists, but somehow I do.”

“Actually, Pennsy, Crazypace and me went up to the Catskills a couple weeks ago as an impromptu trip and we bagged Rusk. It was pretty easy though.
last edited: 12/23/06 12:21:00 PM”

“That's right ENS I do need Panther and Balsam, if the snow doesn't cooperate for the Pre-FYAO I'll go on this trip and go up early on Friday and get Panther, I've been so close to it so many times. Then I would just have Balsam, where is it?”

“both Panther and Balsam trailheads are close to eachother on Rt. 47. Both are peaks that require a winter and non-winter bag.

I had an idea for a non-winter trip.

Go up Friday night and night climb to Giant Ledge. Saturday get up and hit Panther. Then drop back down to car on 47. From there, drive over to McKennley Hollow Trailhead off of 47 and set up basecamp at the McKennley Hollow leanto. This is a beautiful lean-to and the climb to Balsam from there, albiet incredibly steep, is really beautiful.

Sunday, head home.”

“the peaks I need yet are:

Halcott
Sherril
North Dome
Vly
Bearpen
Double Top

I need non-winter climbs on:
Balsam
Panther”

“hey - you wanna know what I think about the "non-winter" climb rules? ;o)”

“Damn I think I need Doubletop also, we didn't get it on the evil bushwack did we.”

“Hey you two gonna do my PreFYAO?”

“Lt.. you got Double Top when you and Bruce did Balsam Lake and Graham.

Crazypace and I tried to do Dbl Top this past summer and got turned around due to insane amounts of stinging nettle.

I now want to finish all of the bushwhacks this winter before the stinging nettle grows back. I hate that chit!!!


that pic will probably give crazypace nightmares.
last edited: 12/23/06 1:23:17 PM”

“That's right I knew it sounded like I had been there. I am not on my computer.”

“haha - you DO know what I think.

Sheesh - how could ya forget Double Top? That'a where we parted company with MouseSpray and Sacco. That still cracks me up, going separate ways on a trailess peak in the middle of nowhere.

I'll most likey do the PreFyao. I want to do a lot of winter stuff this year, that is if winter ever happens.”

“Yeah what is winter?”

“I have three day weekend the weekend of Pre-FYAO so I definitely want to do something. Lot's of new gear to test out.”

“hey Pennsy, did you ever upload your Blackhead Range pics?”

“ENS with a 3 day weekend we need to find some snow!”

“Oh Lt, you need some Kaaterskill Highpeak, that was a fun one. I'd like to bivy up on Hurricane Ledge. Probably my favorite ledge in the 'skills.”

“Yeah I need that one also. I thought I was closer to being done. Anyway how do you know my list?”

“I am the all knowing peak bagging list memorizer. Ask Crazypace and Pennsy.

Besides, you email it to me a month or two ago.”

“here are the pics I took on our trip to the Catskills a few weeks ago.

”

“OK Mr. Wizard,

What Catskills peaks have I done and which ones do I need to do?

uhm, I'm not even sure!”

“my guess is that you have done:

Blackhead
Black Dome
Thomas Cole
Wittenberg
Cornel
Slide
-
you need:
Panther
Balsam
Eagle
Big Indian
Fir
Double Top
Graham
Balsam Lake
Peekamoose
Table
Lone
Rocky
Balsam Cap
Friday
Kaaterskill High Peak
Indian Head
Twin
Sugar Loaf
Plateau
Hunter
South West Hunter
West Kill
Rusk
Windham High Peak

and the peaks I hope to get this trip:
Halcott
Sherill
North Dome
Vly
Bearpen”

“So is only a day pack needed? plus camping supplies which stay in the car?

sounds good to me.”

“I'm looking into camping at the Blackbear Campground right in Phoenicia. There are showers/bath houses and firewood available, as well as easy access to the town itself.

The cost would be $10 per person per night. What say you guys?

http://home.hvc.rr.com/catskill/”

“Thats a muddy camp ground. If rains in the forcast it turns into a swamp.
But otherwise it would be ideal for base camp.”

“Rain? Nah, winter is here and it's gonna stay. I'd say go for the campground. It would be a convenient place to meet and you could stagger home from a night in Phoenicia, plus I don't know how reliable those campsites are up on 28.”

“those are my thoughts as well.”

“Sounds like a "Capitol" idea!”

“Since winter decided to show I think I will too. ENS can I request 1 foot of snow? I need to try my snowshoes.”

“I'll do my best. Since we're bushwhacking, I am hoping for around 6".”

“I've been talking to the Blackbear campground and they said it's ok if we get there late Friday night. They said we can just pay Saturday. I am trying to find out how late is too late to pay. I told them that we will likely be getting up early Saturday morning to go hiking and be getting back around dinner time.”