It’s mud season! Stay low says the DEC
The NYSDEC has issued its annual appeal for hikers to stay off high elevation trails. It has been especially wet this year to please follow the guidelines below from the DEC website. DEC encourages hikers to help avoid damage to hiking trails and sensitive high elevation vegetation by avoiding trails above 2,500 feet, particularly high elevation trails in the Dix, Giant, and High Peaks Wilderness areas in the northern Adirondacks. Please avoid the following trails…
Best Hikes: Hunter Mountain via Becker Hollow & Devil’s Path
There are many ways up the Catskill’s 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 York…
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…
Blog post: A Memory of a Winter Without Snow
So we are into spring. Looking back on this past winter all I can think of is “blah”. It’s somewhat rare in the Catskills that we don’t get much snow. Not only is it rare, but it’s disappointing for those of us who thrive on back-country activities that require it. I guess chalk one up for climate change. But the Catskills is not the only wintry place impacted. But really, who am I to complain as we…
Best Hikes: The Catskill’s Escarpment Trail from Colgate Lake
The Escarpment Trail is one of the Catskills longest and most scenic paths. Following the Catskill escarpment above the Hudson Valley is exhilarating. Backpacking the entire 23.9 miles from Scutt Road to the trailhead at Rt 23 or the reverse, makes for an outstanding 3-day outing. However if you only have 2 days there are other options. One option as we did on this trip is to enter the Escarpment Trail from Colgate Lake. The…