Unabridged Catskills Trip Report

“ABSTRACT

On Friday, February 16, 2001, AmyG, Tom and Buddur the dog met at camp, north of Denning, NY off the Phoenicia-East Branch Trailhead for a 3-night www.thebackpacking.com Trail Talk trip in the Catskill mountains of New York state.

The camp was on the west side and just upstream of the first major stream (turn L at the narrow log bridge) on the Peekamoose/Table Trail The campsite was nestled under a grove of old-growth pines, and had a large deep rocky fire pit and a weathered, half-melted snow sofa/fort nearby? btw - There is NO Denning Lean-to!

Saturday (2/17/01) morning, Hem and Gweed arrived and we all hiked to the top of Table mountain. Hem bushwhacked alone to Lone mountain and back down to camp, while the rest of us hiked to Peekamoose peak and back to camp. Weather was mostly cloudy, windy to blustery, intermittent snow and cold. Feeney and Danielle arrived that night after everyone went to bed.

Sunday (2/18/01) morning, the Feeneys left for home. M-silver and his dog Sparkey arrived for a dayhike to Slide mountain. Weather was calm to breezy, partly cloudy and cold. Stayed at camp for a third night.

Monday (2/19/01) morning, broke down camp and left for home.




Friday February 16, 2001

Got up ~7:30am, had everything ready to throw into the van, and was on the road by ~8:30am. Drove ~440 miles through ugly drizzle to get to the Denning trailhead ~5pm. After surveying the frozen trail and deep snow off the trail I decided to hike with my snowshoes for their crampon-like traction, which was a good thing because the freezing drizzle made the trail very slick?and stepping off the trail would posthole your leg a few feet deep in the snow.

After hiking ~1.5 miles to the area where the Denning lean-to was supposed to be located, I kept an eye out for it and kept going. When ascending somewhat from the stream floodplain along the trail I knew I went too far and was subsequeltly going up the trail to Table Mtn, and MUST have passed the trail to the lean-to. After turning back and hiking back to the stream confluence area, I dropped my pack and snowshoe?d around for a loooooong while.

I NEVER found the lean-to and was convinced there wasn?t one. Of course, it was ~33F and ~97% humidity and I was so hot my glasses were steamed up to the point where I couldn?t see with them on?or off. Ugh! I did find a marked campsite just north and on the west side of the first large stream crossing, so I decided to set up camp there. As it was raining/drizzling the whole time, at just above freezing temps, in pitch-black darkness and I was wet and feeling miserable after making a considerable effort to find the lean-to?I quickly ate and jumped into my sleeping bag for the night.

I really didn?t think AmyG would show that night because of the ugly weather, but after being in my bag for about a half-hour, I heard someone whistling and screaming. At first I thought I was hearing things because coyotes were constantly howling in the distance and a stream roared nearby. But I still thought I heard someone, so I began to prep myself for exiting into the wet cold, and while doing so, AmyG arrived in camp. She set up camp in a hurry, then went back to the cutoff trail to our camp and left an arrow made out of firewood pointing in out direction to mark where we were for the others coming in the morning. We exchanged banter for a short while and then headed to our tents for the night. Temp in my tent got down to 16F the first night.

Saturday February 17, 2001

When I wake, I usually cook in my vestibule and eat breakfast while still half-cocooned in my warm sleeping bag. Before I knew it, Hem and Gweed were in camp. Not soon after I got out of the tent, we began out day-hike to ascend Table Mtn (3847?).

There was only one decent vista on the way up, so we stopped there just long enough for me to FREEZE. AmyG said she wasn?t feeling 100% the beginning of the ascent, but she pushed on and up with no apparent problem. Her snowshoe bindings kept coming loose and she couldn?t wear them, but that didn?t stop her. Gweed (ahead) wrote notes to us in the snow with his poles, and with some yellow dye? sprayed on the snow. Hem effortlessly pushed on in front like a mountaingoat. After we got to the top and started heading to Peekamoose Mtn (3843?), Hem says he?s taking off and bushwhacking the trail-less saddle to Lone Mtn. I?d?of loved to have joined him on his venture, but it would?ve been torture for my dog to try to follow through the deep snow. Before Hem parted, I asked him if he?d stop by camp to let us know he made it safely down, and he said he would. At some point, Gweed had ripped the snot icicle off his moustache before I could get a picture of it. When we made it to Peekamoose the weather was starting to turn very windy and blowing snow, and the weather stayed that way as we hiked back to Table, and down to camp.

It was so windy while we were gone, AmyG?s tent had blown onto its side, and mine was squished and almost the same. In camp, Gweed stayed for about another hour to help swizzle down some of AmyG?s grape wine slushy to keep warm. Me, I started to freeze after standing around...I envy those who are big enough and have a core temperature that doesn?t cool rapidly. Well, by the time Gweed left camp, Hem still had not returned. However, as Gweed hiked the trail from camp Hem arrived with a BIG smile on his face, and another solo bushwhacking accomplishment under his belt. Hem?you tha? man! Took us 6:10 hrs and 5.8 miles to complete the hike.

AmyG and I made dinner and contemplated heading out because it was FREEZING!!! And?Gweed had offered his warm home as solace from the weather?it was a tough choice, but we opted to stay. I starting a measly fire and we conversed around it for a short while before AmyG turned in. By that time, I gained my second wind and couldn?t crash yet (I think the toe warmers and the down booties had something to do with it). However, after standing around and stareing at the fire, and going down to the stream where I had a clear view of the cloud-less night sky, I relentlessly broke down the fire and turned in. Glad I had a convertible 3-4 season tent to enclose myself off from the chilling wind!!!

Well?about 20 minutes later I heard more voices in the distance. Sure enough, more company?Feeney and Danielle showed up, after dark and in the freezing cold. I got up and tried restarting the fire, but the few hot coals weren?t enough to get it roaring again. So after chatting a short while we all crashed for the night. Temp in my tent got down to 14F that second night.

Sunday, February 18, 2001

Woke up to Feeney saying he wished he?d?ve slept with his water bottles because they all froze. Ugh! A unanimous decision between the Feeneys opted them decline the remainder of the weekend and soon packed up and left camp for home. It was good to have their company even for the short while.

After about an hour M-silver and his wonderdog, Sparky, showed up for a day-hike to Slide Mtn (~4186??). The dogs got along well the whole trip?after Sparkey put Buddur in his place a few times?and considering Buddur wanted to play and Sparkey wanted nothing to do with Buddur.

The weather was beautiful?partly cloudy and sunny and calm. Met Pat the Park Ranger on the way up, who said she?s been a ranger since the mid 80?s. Saw some tracks that looked like a linx, bobcat, or something like that! Rested and took pictures at a few vistas while hiking up Table. The trails had lots of beautiful rockhouse-like outcrops of massively-bedded conglomerate at certain elevations along the way up, and tunnel-like portions within pine thickets on each mountain we hiked. Ended the ascent at John Burrough?s vista, a place where the writer loved to camp and write. A plaque in his honor is attached to the wall of the vista outcrop. The vistas at the top provided us with breathtaking overlooks of the surrounding mountainous countryside.

It took us 5 hours total (including stops) to get there, and it was 3pm when we decided to head back. I didn?t think we?d make it to camp before the sun went down?but we did! Everytime we stopped for a while, even the hike the day before, my fingers would get cold and it?d take a while for them to warm up after we began hiking again. Took us 7:37 hrs and 8.1miles to complete the hike.

I bought Buddur some high-energy food for active dogs for the weekend, but the manufacturers failed to provide a warning as to the hazardous vapors produced by the consumption of this food. Needless to say Buddur was providing olfactory surprises throughout the weekend.

I used most of the firewood Gweed stashed for us, and made a nice and warm fire. M-silver and Sparkey stayed in camp for a short while, then left for home? Thanks for the company, guys! AmyG and I had $hitz & giggles for quite awhile standing around and shooting the bull. But finally turned in when the fire dwindled and warmth became scarce. I slept with my drinking water bottle, water filter, camera, GPS and my dramadary bag full of just warmed water almost every night. The temp in my tent got down to 10F the third night.

Monday, February 19, 2001

Got up early, did some jumping jacks to warm up, and went looking for firewood. Found enough to have a nice warm blaze while we ate breakfast and slowly broke down camp. AmyG made some high-octane coffee ala Bailey?s that made the morning much warmer?her potatos? also had a kick to ?em! I tried heating up a frozen salsa, bacon and egg burrito by wrapping it up in Al foil and heating it over the fire. After about 45 min, it was heated and ready to eat?and was sufficiently delicious.

After breaking down our tents, you could see on the ground where AmyG?s bodyheat had melted a linear depression where she had been sleeping. Me, I had a Thermarest on top a Z-Rest and had enough insulation between me and the cold ground?thank goodness!

We finally were ready to leave the campsite ~11am and made it the 1.5 miles back to the vehicles ~12am for a beautiful days drive back home. AmyG?s sled worked like a charm?of course, I wasn?t pulling the thing! After 906 miles to home, the trip was over. While driving out I noticed my full Nalgene water bottle had frozen solid, but turns out after thawing the ice, the bottle withstood the pressure and survived the big freeze intact! In a way?so did AmyG and I (and Buddur)!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I?d like to thank Hem, Gweed, Feeney, Danielle, M-silver and Sparkey for their enjoyable company?it?s also nice to put a face to a name! I hope to hike with you all again someday. And to AmyG for sticking it out?and putting up with my crap! I?d also like to thank Webmaster Matt?if it weren?t for him creating this site, this trip would?ve never culminated and taken place!”

“GREAT REPORT TOM....er Buddur! I know what ya mean, It's worth freezing your @ss off to have to oppratunity to meet and hang out with this bunch here.
I'm glad to hear ya thawed out enough to tell us about it. LOL! Now let's see some pics!”

“Soundedlikefun”

“The lean-to in Denning was moved up on the peakamoose trail about 2 years ago. (though I haven't seen it I have been told it's about 3400 ft) I think one of the reasons was that it was too easily a party spot for local one nighters. I remember the first snowy night when I found that out. There also use to be a much larger log to cross into the delta now that one is gone too. I am real glad to hear you guys had a great time and home that I get the opportunity again to meet all of you!”

“Well done! You two get my vote for the Toughest Trail Talk Backpackers of February Contest. Now what kind of sleeping bags did you tell us you have?”

“Hey Tom!

Great trip report! ...made me feel like I was there all three days! Was a pleasure meeting and spending Sunday in the company of you and AmyG. Was glad Sparky had a canine friend to hike with too.

The only thing you forgot from Sunday was the lecture Amy and I got from Ranger Rudge at the Curtis-Ormsbee monument about wearing snowshoes ;-)

Amy intends to post the pics I sent to her Photopoint.com page, but I don't know when she'll have them ready.

Take care man.”

“Friday night-

I hiked in after dark, since the sleet and freezing rain delayed my travel time to NY. After loading up the gear sled, with the firewood gweed had stashed near the trailhead and the monster backpack I packed with goodies, I set out on my 1.5 mile trek to camp...

By light of headlamp, I navigated my way down the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail 1.2 miles to the junction with the blue-blazed Peekamoose trail, learning as I went, how to cross the little streams and such while pulling the gear sled and wearing snowshoes.

The Peekamoose trail was mostly downhill(and steep in parts) for the ?0.3 mile? I would be on it, so I ended up pushing the sled a lot, which was great! However, when I came to the East branch of the Neversink River, I had to abandon the sled...the only way across was a single log, flattened on top, but barely wide enough to safely accommodate foot travel.

At that point I was close to where the lean-to(our meeting point) was supposed to be. The snowshoe tracks I had been following veered off the trail at a marked campsite sign, so I followed, assuming it must be the lean-to...nope. After walking a while through the woods, the tracks circled me back in a circle. Whadafuh?

After quite a bit more of a search effort, I deduced that either there was no lean-to or that there was no way I would find it tonight. I called out to see if I could hone in on where Tom and Buddur might be camped...no answer. I walked back to the last place I had seen fresh tracks...and called again. This time, I got a distant whistle in response, but it was all but lost in the whistling wind and howling of coyotes. I moved towards where I thought it had come from and eventually, with calls back and forth, I found where Tom and Buddur had made camp.

I set up camp and hung out for a brief exchange with my new friends...and then crashed for the night. The long drive, coupled with the hike through blowing wind and sleet/snow made me eager to crawl into my beloved WM bag. :o)

Saturday Morning-

It snowed lightly off and on throughout the night. I got up early to wander the area and assess the sights. Also, since we weren?t camped where we had planned, I was concerned that the others, who were coming in that day, would miss us. On my stroll/jog to warm up, I found Gweed and Hem, separately and aimlessly both wandering the woods in search of us. LOL
What timing...

We went back to camp to get the rest of the gang and retrieve my daypack and snowshoes. Soon we were off, heading towards Table mountain (3847?), with Gweed taking the lead - we were lucky to see any sign of him from that point until the top almost, except for the occasional message scrawled in the snow.

We peaked Table, where Hem split off to bushwhack to lone mountain. We would have all joined him, but for various reasons, one of which being the fact that I had gotten sick earlier that morning, the rest of us decided to stay trailbound. We continued on to summit Peekamoose(3843?) and scarf down some grub. It was so windy and cold up there, by that time, that we didn?t stay up there long...just long enough to snap a few pics of Gweed with the icicles hanging from his mustache. heh heh heh ? what a sight!

We re-traced steps back over Table mountain, stopping at a nice vista, with terrific views of VanWyck Mt and a few others(hopefully will have pics back and posted soon). We arrived back at camp safe and sound, after 7.4 winter miles(according to the map ? gps-boy, Tom, can be more precise). The winds had flipped my tent over, displaying it like it was some sad little box-kite. I was drooling over the 4-season tent that Tom and Buddur shared - almost enough to crawl inside on those chilly nights. I said almost, people
>;oP

Saturday Eve-

Gweed came back to camp with us and stayed for dinner, but opted not to camp out, due to the predicted temps below zero that night. When he left around 6, it was already in the single digits and the wind was merciless. We still hadn?t heard from Hem!
He arrived soon after Gweed left, thankfully, with the same trademark mustach icicles, LOL. Good to know he was back safe and sound. He headed back to the car soon, while Tom/Buddur and I prepared for the cruel night we would soon face.
I know that we were both wondering if it would be smart to hike out and spend the night at Gweed?s(he had offerred to put us up, as he lived locally). I think we were both leaning that way and if either of us had spoken those thoughts aloud, we would have been outta there!

It was too cold to hang out, so we crawled into our bags for the night. No sooner had we settled in ,then Mr and Mrs Adventurist showed up! Hooray...spirit lifters anyway. :o)

They had hiked in the dark in the near-zero temps! As they got their tent set up and organized, Tom built a fire and I danced around(to stay warm) and made conversation.

We all hung out around the fire for a bit and then retreated to the warmth(relative) of the tents.

Sunday morning-

Brrrrrr! Below zero temps during the night with a wicked wind-chill. Who wants to get out of their sleeping bag cacoon?? Not me!! =:0

It was snowing inside my tent, from the frosted accumulation of moisture. It was damn cold...thank dawg for handwarmers!! The now-routine morning warm-up dance-and-run(up and down the hill to the creek) was done to get the blood pumping so breakfast could be made. Once that first cup of hot coffee was done, life was going to be ok again. Ahhhh

Again, I went off in search of wayward wanderers, since our camp was misplaced and our tracks kept getting covered by the intermittent snowfall that kept occurring throughout the trip. I turned up MSilver and Sparky not too far down the trail, by following their fresh tracks and yelling really loud. LOL
I think Tom might have gotten his arse outta his tent by this time...maybe.
;o)

Back at camp, we packed our daystuff and headed out for Slide mountain...

My snowshoe bindings were f#@%$ up(damn rentals) so I had to go without. I opted to hike in my Solomon Snowclogs and gaiters, since they were warmer and had great traction ? much better than my boots. The trail said 5 miles to Slide, but it was probably only 4ish(again, ask Tom, the gps-man). Still, a 9-10 miled round-trip in Winter makes for a lonnnng day.

The trail was typical of the area?more of the beautiful, snow-covered, wonderland pictures with an occasional stream crossing. Long stretches of woodland would soon open up to reveal glorious peak views along the way. (pics are forthcoming, I promise)

It was a tough climb, once we left the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail, hitting the Curtis Ormsbee and following the Long Path. The steep trails tunneling around rock formations and through thick stands of balsam. The higher we climbed, the more vistas we encountered with glorious sights into valleys and across snow-peaked mountain ranges. The rime ice collected on the tops of the trees and sparkled against a sunny day. Temps were in the high teens, reaching low twenties by lunchtime. :o)
Perfect weather for this hike, especially since the wind had calmed since the previous day.

Views from the top of Slide(4180?) were incredible! The exposed top made for a great lunch spot, since the weather was so cooperative. We met some neat people up there and MSilver flirted with Ranger Pat a little bit...as it turns out, he already had her phone number. LOL
Oh yeah...I got a bit sunburned on my face! D?oh!

Sunday Eve-

Msilver hung out for a bit while we made a fire, fixed dinner, filtered water, etc...Then he set out after dark for the car. It was to be a nother chilly night. Thank dawg for down booties and hand warmers!
Tom/Buddur and I hung out around the fire for a while and got silly. Then, finally gave in to the cold and crashed out for the night(early).

Monday Morning...final day

Save the best for last! I woke up early, doing my usualy contemplation as to whether I would get out of the warmth of my sleeping bag ever. The boys reluctantly emerged a short while later and we got the fire roaring again. Since this was our last leg of the trip, we used up the rest of the firewood I had brought and had a toasty warm breakfast fire going. Tom and I danced around the fire like the deliriously giddy fools we were at that point. Singing songs like ?shake your booty? and ?hot stuff?(Donna Summers) while doing Rockette high-kicks and other such nonesense to warm up. LOL, what fun!

I made some kick-ass homefried potatoes for breakfast, which had my praises being sung(that, and the fact that I make the best damn trail coffee ever). I have a great pic of Tom doing the happy-coffee breakfast dance in his booties, LOL!
Pics are coming, I promise!

Then, too soon we were packed and headed off...back to the ?civil? world...
sigh”

“y'all were gone these last few days?”

“Dang rad, I shore missed 'em somethin TERRIBLE!”

“LMFAO!!!!!!!!!
I gotta see Tom dancing around the fire!!!!!!!!!!! TOO FU*KIN FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!
Tom, You didn't act like that at Zaleski!! LOL! LOL!LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!
HAHAHAHAHAAAHAAHAHAAHA!!!!!”

“LOL!!!! yeah, i could tell that you were devastated.

so, you folks went out in the COLD? who DOES that?”

“Yeah, That's SO Amazing!!”

“smarties! Well, you'll have to wait on the dancing pics, I am sorry to say. I have them back, but probably won't have them scanned until tomorrow. Worth the wait though. Also, some good shots of camp, the gear sled and the other trip participants.
:o)

Meanwhile, here are some great scenics and hiker shots of Sunday's trek to Slide mountain, courtesy of MSilver. Thanks, M!

A perfect Winter outing ”

“great pics”

“Beautiful mountains behind yall but I can't see yall. Your camera needs a flash.”

“Nice siloette though Amy.”

“Finally! I've been trying to post for 3 days now! My password is accepted but the box never appears! Oh well. I'm really sorry we bailed on you guys but is was a combo of a couple things. I can tolerate the cold but I was definitely having problems with my hands. It didn't help that none of the hand warmers worked. Oh well...I hope that you guys understood. I definitely am in for the next local trip in warmer weather. Amy....will you forgive me? Sniff....Please don't be mad at me...... I'm glad that you guys had a successful trip! I'm impressed with all of you!

Feeney (and Mrs. Feeney too!)”

“That was great you guys, I loved the trip reports but the pictures were a bit dark on the faces. It looks like a good time was had by all and that makes for great memories! Good on you all!
Thanks for sharing!”

“AmyG, Tom, Budder: the three of you were so brave to camp for 3 successive nights in that chilly weather. I wish I could have spent more time with you, but a part of me wants the joys of indoor plumbing in that kind of weather. Maybe
we will meet again.

P.S. Budder is the nicest dog I have met on a trail.”

“M-Silver...thanks for the great (early) pics. Mine should be ready to be picked up later today.

The lecture we got from Ranger Pat was about wearing snowshoes as much as possible on those trails so as not to posthole the trail too much. Because after a hard freeze and snowfall, the trail becomes too frozen anf the holes become covered...dangerously preserving these frozen booby-traped holes and making the trail hard to walk on. She said she tore some ligaments in her shoulder once when she fell from stepping into one of those holes.

Hem...the warm weather is just around the corner!

I'm ready for another trip...already!

...and I wasn't really dancing!”

“Sol, was there a contest?!? What do we win! ;o)

BTW, I have a WM Antelope(5-10 degree), which I supplemented with a fleece bag liner and an outer shell bag("duraflex").

I had such a great time meeting and hiking with all of you. It is so cool to put faces with names, etc.
Sparky and Buddur were both exceptional traildogs, with great manners - even ranger Pat couldn't resist their charms.

It was cool to see Buddur's(Tom's) beer can stove in action! I want one! hey Tom, did I tell ya today was my birthday?? wink wink

The key seemed to be, keeping it warm...same went with my cannister stove. I had no problems.

No worries, Feen...we will hike again. Bummer that ya had to bail, but understandable. One the water froze and the handwarmers failed...
Bad luck. I've got a cute pic of you and D! I'll 'em post soon.”

“Make you one, AmyG??? Heck, I'l start drinkin' right away!”

“Amy,
The Toughest Trail Talk Backpackers of February Contest is something I dreamed up while doing some 12 ounce curls the other night (Yeah, it was a brutal workout). I'm the "Sol"e judge of this contest and my decisions are final and absolute. Now what you and Tom and Buddur won is a cold six pack of your favorite brew. The prize will be awarded on top of Cottonwood Pass, Sequoia National Park, in the state of California, on July 31st of this year. I will be carrying this beer up there for you. I hope you can be there to collect this valuable prize.”

“Buddur, there is only so long that you can deny the booty-shakin' thang, before I post the pics to prove it! hehehe

Sol, I would love to make that trip, but things are uncertain as to where I will be then...
Then again, who know's? Maybe I'll even end up a West Coaster! =:0”

“Here 'tis...whatta guy!

Haulin' the goodies(gear sled)

More Cats pics

:o)”

“Wo BABY!
Them is reel perty dogs!

Know what?
THEY MAKE ME WHORNY! do:3

I wish me and my daddy would be ther but it is prolly a good thing that I was not ther cuz I would be whorny and prolly get preggent. /o:3”

“That is so disgusting and stupid!”

“all right! there's gonna be a fight on the playground over a girl! i like this place more and more all the time.”

“That wasn't me...my dog...or my thermarest on the ground!”

“More great pictures, again Thanks for sharing AmyG!”

“Great pics.


FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! owh dam the teachers broke up yet another fight”

“Awesome scenery, thanks!”

“Tom, Is that the "Funky Chicken" your doing there bro?”

“Great pictures and glad everyone had a nice time.”

“Actually...after consuming some of AmyG's exotic coffee, I found myself somehow surfing the ice on my Z-Rest!”

“You guys are too much”