Tips for Camping in the Catskills
Camping in the Catskills is an awesome experience! However, being only two and a half hours from millions of people it can be crowded. Following some basic tips can make your experience richer and also preserve the sensitive environment that the Catskills has to offer. Plan, plan and plan again This is a simple but critical skill. You can never “over-plan”. In fact, there is great joy in planning and anticipating your trip. Use trail…
Fir Mountain Hike a Quick Overnight
In the Big Indian Wilderness sits Fir Mountain a 3630′ trail-less peak. The mountain is located about 1-mile NW of Spruce Mountain and 1.5-miles SE of Big Indian Mountain. It sits on the Catskill Divide as the east slopes drain to the Esopus and on to the Hudson and east, south, and west to the West Branch of the Neversink and to the Delaware River and Bay. The summit does have Fir trees on it,…
Plattekill Mountain in the Catskills Indian Head Wilderness
Plattekill Mountain is a 3100’ foot peak just about 1.5-miles southeast of Indian Head Mountain. It is also in close proximity with Echo Lake perched NNE of the lake about 0.75-miles as the crow flys. One can spy the lake from a viewpoint with about a 200-300’ descent south of the summit. Plattekill is one of the Catskill 67 and with the hike from Platte Clove Preserve makes for an outstanding day hike. As seemingly…
The Catskill’s Sleeping Lion via Condon Hollow
The Sleeping Lion is a 3391’ (3408’ referenced by some) peak northeast of Halcott Mountain in the Central Catskills. It is also known as Northeast Halcott, but that’s boring, so we’ll use Sleeping Lion. The peak is one of the Catskill 67 and it towers over Deep Notch. On its southeastern face are some “minor” but impressive cliffs that ice climbers use for mostly practice. The peak can be hiked from Deep Notch from RT…
Backpacking the Adirondack’s Dix Range
The Dix Range, peaks associated with Dix Mountain anchor the High Peaks. As one drives the Adirondack Northway from the south one can catch a glimpse of these peaks, especially the crown-like summit of Macomb. Situated south and separated from Marcy and the main jumble of high peaks Dix offers some of the best hiking, overnight or multiday backpacking and views in the Adirondacks and possibly in the Northeast. One can push and “do” the…