Catskills, Prezzie's weekend

“Catskill Mountains, NY...Prezzie?s weekend hikin'

OK, so far we have:

AmyG
Buddur-boy
Gweed(another site)
Feeney and fiance?
MSilver - dayhike(wuss) ;)

Still waiting to hear from M&M
And yooohooo, maybe...SirPete???

Looks like the plan is to set up basecamp and do dayhikes to summit highpeaks: Slide, Cornell, and Wittenburg(?the Borroughs Range?). It will be a ?hike your own hike? kind of thang with the usual basecamp merriment. :o)

Feedback, changes, additions, Bueller?”

“You may already know this, but there is a site you can check for trail condition reports: http://www.lexicomm.com/trail/ny/index.html

Reports from Catskills and Adirondacks are frequent. Slide is one of the easiest hikes in the Catskills from the west, and one of the most challenging from the east, with some vertical climbs, the biggest about 35 feet.”

“How many nights...at least 2 I hope?

...and you mean...Buddur and his boy!

RichB...you're from that neck of the woods...you interested?

I may travel there the night before (~9 hrs drive). If'n I do...can I crash with someone who lives close by the area?

Where's the trailhead located that we'll be starting from?

So many questions!!!!

(Going to see Les Claypool's Flyin' Frog Brigade tonight.)”

“Can't believe TopoZone is lacking a good map for part of the area!”

“thanks for the link, hem!
(I guess we didn't scare you away, LOL)
the 35ft vertical, you mention, does that spot have a cliff-ladder? I think I routed around that part! ;o)

Buddur(and yer human friend, too)-
My plan was to arrive late Fri or VERY early Sat, camp out Sat and Sun nights...headin' back home Monday.

If I arrive late Fri, I'll be camping. I live a few hours south of the cats.

We'll have to definitively decide on trailheads and such off-line(e).”

“I haven't hiked the east side of Slide (planning to do it later this year). I read about it in my Catskills guide book, published by Adk Mountain Club. I don't know if there are ladders at any of the vertical climbs. Topo maps suggest that bushwhacking around them should be possible.”

“"Looks like the plan is to set up basecamp and do dayhikes to summit highpeaks..." and "My plan was to arrive late Fri or VERY early Sat, camp out Sat and Sun nights...headin' back home Monday"

Sounds good. Drive there Fri and sleep near trailhead. Hike in Sat morning and set up camp...a small dayhike if time allows. Get up Sun morning and do the dayhike to the summits, then back to camp for the night. Hike out Mon morning.

Sound like a half-decent itinerary to everyone?”

“DROOL DROOL DROOL, Amy you always know the right things to say to a guy! I'm very possible in on this one, I have to clear it with the boss. If I'm in I will show up on friday night but have to leave on Sunday, can't stay that night to. I'm not sure what the conditions are at this moment but I was up there about 3 weeks ago and the trail between Slide and Cornell was unbroken.........until I rolled down that is. Climbing back up was very difficult with it almost impossible to find the ladders, I think I finally uncovered one of them. With all the new snow we just got I don't think its going to be any better. It seems as though everyone who has been doing Cornell and Wittenburg have been doing it from the Woodland valley side. I don't know what they got up there Amy but we got like 30 inches here in the Gap. I've got the number to the Rangers up there maybe we can give them a call before we go. If anyone wants a copy of the topo map of the area let me know any I can send one out promptly. it will have all the appropriate #'s on it. Keep me informed on progress. Pete”

“O.K. looks like the boss is going to let me go hahaha. Pencil me in.”

“Excellent, Pete! It will be nice to finally meet you. We got lots of snow here too...about an hour south of the gap. I am heading up your way next weekend for a snowshoe dayhike, actually. :o)

Buddur+, since apparently the burroughs range trail DOES have ladders(making it canine-unfriendly) we could basecamp along the east branch of the neversink river, giving us access to slide/cornell/witt peaks via trails east, giant ledge/panther mt/winisook lake to the north, and south is peekamoose and table mt.s. Everybody can pick their poison then, so to speak, since we are dayhiking.
Perfect! :o)”

“some more links for more info-

hiking info

clickable maps ”

“Buddur, Sounds like a great trip, but I'll have to wait for the next one. I'm heading out to New Jersey with my brother to visit relatives on Prez weekend. Hope you guys have good weather and a great time.”

“I've done the Cornell-Wittenburg-Slide route! Did it solo last October, took on Slide from the east route. There are some pretty intimidating near-vert to vert stretches, but with a group of people you can take off your packs and person-to-person them up or down. I did the route alone in the rain and it was VERY scary..but man, what a great time!

On a more positive note, what a GREAT area, if you've never been. Incredible views on top of Cornell especially. The ecology of the area is amazing. Once you get above the 3k' mark, the pine furs are real thick and it's awesome hiking the path through them.

Where do you guys plan on meeting? Woodland campground? I'm only 2 hours away, think it'd be fun to meet some TT'ers face to face.”

“Artex, 2 hrs which way, I am no more than that myself. I agree on the area I use it as my backyard, ya know the sure thing. When I need a good quick trip the Cat's are real close. I'm not sure what Amy has up her sleeve, sounds like she's taking about basecamping in the wash where the old lean-to use to be in from Denning trailhead, but whatever is going on you should come out for the trip, or at least a day trip!”

“SirPete - I'm 2 hours south, in northern NJ. I know the lean-to you're talking about. I'd definetly love to make it up there, I have a four day weekend then (Sat.-Tues). If I don't do an overnighter, would love to bring up one of the dogs for a day!

I love that area, that hike I did there left me with so many incredible, vivid memories. Beautiful area.”

“I've got all sorts of tricks up my sleeve...don't you worry, Petey! moohahaha

The lean-to is still there, en route to Peekamoose. I thought that would make for a good meeting point, at least(~2miles in). I think one day to summit peekamoose and table mts and one day to head over the burroughs range(at least to do slide) is a good plan, but we can all do our own thing. I thought this spot was good, for that very reason...lots of schtuff to see and do. :o)

So, the list now is:
AmyG
Buddur + his human
Gweed(another site)
Feeney and fiance? -mebbe
MSilver - dayhike(wuss) ;)
SirPete

Still waiting to hear from M&M
and...yooohoo, Artex? *wink wink nudge*”

“I wish I could go with you guys.”

“LOL! sirpete is now addicted to TT trips! Wish I could make it up there. Yall have fun!”

“ooooh, I am starting to get psyched...hittin' the trail, hittin' the trail, hittin' the trail!! (yeah, I neeeed to get out, how'd ya guess?) %^P

I cannot wait to finally put that gear sled to the test! Looks like basecamp is gonna have some extra comforts with that haul. Stay tuned.
;o)”

“Y'all are gonna KILL CATSES?! o-8=

Poor leetle kittykittys )o:3

Y'all are not happy nice people and I would not smell yer butts or like yer guts!”

“Lets be honest Sara, you chase after squirlls and ripe there heads off.”

“How much beer can yer sled hold AmyG?”

“SirPete...could you send me one of yer copies of the contour map for the area. Click on my name to get my Eaddress.

I went ot the local library yesterday and found info on the Catskills but no book had good maps of the area. As I'm a map freak, I'd like to have a good map of the area. Thanks!”

“What do you mean maybe?????? We'll be there one of the days......”

“Beer, Buddur?!? Who said anything about beer? >hic<
I'm gonna be riding in the sled...why do ya think I invited all you packmules er uhh, I mean BIG, STRONG, boyz along? *wink wink*
Lessee...I think we are up to five(give or take) now...yep, that should get me up slide mountain in no time!
;o)

Ok Feen, yer in...D too, Sat or Sun rendezvous?”

“AmyG - I'll put my chance at going at about %80. I'll let you know for sure next week. Sounds like a great time! :-D”

“Yall might have to put rocks in sirpete's pack to slow him down. He's a powerful walker on dem hills. And yall be sure to scold him if he starts usin words like "yall" and "britches". He'z down south WAY too long! hehehe”

“LOL, I think most TT people have a little hick in them.”

“thanks for the tip, walkindude...I'll let pete be the alpha-packmule, in that case! ;o)

still have:
AmyG
Buddur and His human
Feeney and D
Gweed
MSilver and Sparky
SirPete

other maybes-
Artex
M&M”

“Hey, is this the FIRST yankee ECT? Anybody know?”

“First of many!

I'm going to (making another effort, that is) Dolly Sods in WV next. I say we debate a date!”

“oooh, a DATE, Buddur? >blush blush<
;o)

I would love to go to Dolly Sods and/or Otter Creek Wilderness! ...BUT, other than my jaunt up to Maine for Spring break, I have very little time free until after late May(grad).

One more week, guys!
hittin' the trail, hittin' the trail', hittin' the trail...
>;oP”

“I walk in May also AmyG!”

“Pete!!! That's so cool...there are a bunch of us, I believe.
We'll have a celebration hike in June!! I think Oldie's finally gittin' officially BS'ed and Lt.Dan is gonna be a mastah!

Parteee time!! *<\:oP~ ”

“oooooh, I almost fergot my catshike maniacal chanting!!

hittin' the trail, hittin' the trail, hittin' the trail...

mooohahahahahaaaaaaa
;o)”

“It's gettin close to lift off.

How's the snow ground cover over there (snowshoes?)? Got a time and definite location for us folks meeting at the trailhead, or area we gonna meet somewhere on the trail?

Just wondering!”

“With all this warm weather it is going to be hard to tell until just before we go. I am going to bring my shoes but I'm thinking that it is going to be wet and soft.......just the ways I likes it! really though a call to the ranger a day or two before and we will really know what to expect. btw Buddur did you get you map?”

“No map yet!”

“Buddur -

Just look for me. I'll be that chick with the backpack, hiking in the Catskills. ;o)

Just kiddin' honeybunches! I'll keep ya posted on the absolutes

Gweed is scouting out the area this weekend. He will give me a snow report tomorrow. :o)

relax guys, I've got this gig covered

Bo)”