Backpacking the Windham – Blackhead Mountain Range Loop
Backpacking the Windham High Peak – Blackhead Mountain Range loop makes for a wonderful 2 to a 3-day outing. Passing over 6-peaks and 3-subpeaks makes for a bumpy ride. There are abundant views on the entire route and you can find spots to camp that are not at a lean-to or designated campsite (aka primitive campsite). Sections of the trail can be arid, especially during summer so plan accordingly. If you do a true loop…
Rochester Hollow Lean-to Catskills
If you’re looking for a secluded place to camp, the Rochester Hollow Lean-to should be on your shortlist. Situated above the valley of the hollow on a plateau on a ridge extending from Rose Mountain, a Catskill 67 peak, it is a wonderfully maintained and accessible lean-to. Unlike many lean-tos in the Catskills, this one allows ATV access by permit for people with mobility problems. With its large privy and gravel paths, one will find…
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…
Winnisook Mountain and West Winni
Winnisook Mountain is a 3270’ peak that sits perched at the headwall of the Big Indian Valley. It has east and west summits with the east summit being the high point. However, not all high points are the main attraction and that’s the case with Winni. The high point straddles the Big Indian Wilderness and Winnisook Lake land boundary, so it’s on private land, just barely. The Big Indian Valley is walled by the Big…
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…