COVID-19 Hiking and Camping: NYS Fire Towers Closed
As we have all been asked to be socially responsible and practice social distancing during the COVID-19 (aka coronavirus) outbreak, it is hard to do in urban areas. It seems that this will go on for some time and mandates will change as the situation changes. People have been heading for parks and playgrounds with their kids to ease the tension of being indoors. Who can blame them? We in the hiking community know all…
Best Hikes: Hunter Mountain via Becker Hollow & Devil’s Path
There are many ways up the Catskills second highest summit. Ranging from moderate to difficult makes reaching the fire tower views doable for most people. With a horse trail and handicap ramp for mounting and dismounting, it gives the trip another dimension. Even though this writer has read criticism in forums about the safety for horses on the steeper sections of the trail, it does offer an opportunity that no other high peak in New…
Hunter Mountain via the West Ridge
Hunter Mountain is the Catskill’s second highest peak and one of five with a restored fire tower on the summit. Hunter’s summit has been heavily logged in the past and has experienced many burns. Forest historian, Michael Kudish, has referred to Hunter as the “burn capital” of the Catskills. The logging on Hunter was so extensive that unlike other high peaks in these mountains there is very little growth forest left. Hunter is a busy…
Best Hikes: Balsam Lake Mountain and a Catskill Fire Tower
Balsam Lake Mountain stands as the guardian of western high peaks of the Catskills. From the restored fire tower on its summit, you can see the jumble of the Catskills highest peaks to the north, east, and southeast. To the west are the lower mountains of the western Catskills. This is one of the several fire towers that have been erected on the peak. The first two were crude wooden structures put up by the…
Great Hikes: Hunter Mountain Spruceton Trail
The Spruceton Trail is a very popular approach to Hunter’s summit and with a return on Devil’s Path makes a great circuit hike. The Spruceton Trail follows the old jeep road that serviced the fire tower. This is a well-graded trail and has a few moderately steep sections. The trailhead is at the 6.7-mile point of Spruceton Road off Route 42 in Westkill. The trail starts at the northeast corner of the parking area marked…