ajtiv
New member
Well I went up to the Catskills to finish my Catskill 35 list on Balsam Cap and Rocky over the weekend. I finished the way I started in August 03 with a solo backpack.
I left LI at around 4AM and arrived at the Denning TH at 7am. I geared up and went in to set up camp at the legal site just across the Neversink river.
It was a beautiful clear day in the upper 30s at the start. I got the camp set up and was off at 8:30am happy in the fact that I was going to finish the Catskills; summer anyway, winter to follow.
I followed the herd path along the south side of the Neversink and it was easy going lost the path while crossing back and forth some creeks and run off tributaries coming down for the north side of Table and Lone but pretty easy none the less.
What a great day cool frost on the ground and some melting off the branches as the sun rose over the tops of the southern mountains and hit the trees. Some parts of the Neversink are really gorgeous the way the rock is worn down and the water travelling through over and around the more stubborn bands of rock. Hiking west I kept watching the sun shine drop further and further down the south face of Slide until it reached the valley floor was a great way to watch the time pass as I made my way to the end of the river and my turn south up to the col between BC and Rocky.
All was great until that slip on the dew covered rocks which, before I put my foot down to push off new would slip and tried anyway. Well the river is cold this time of year but not as cold as I thought it would be.
I was probably too mad at myself for doing such a stupid thing that the temperature did not bother me.
So after taking off the boots socks and yes pants and wringing them out as best I could I decided to continue on instead of going back for a change of clothes which was an hour away. I went on a little cold but manageable. As the sun came over to hit me I warmed up and felt pretty good.
I pushed up toward the summit of Rocky actually turning south and then back west to the summit of Rocky. I have read that the summit of Rocky although low in altitude was dense with Balsam and Spruce, after the experience I disagree it was dense but not as bad as others. the ledges on the north face two sections in fact were more difficult to negotiate than the trees. The summit was fairly open and I found the cannister easily. Now only one more to go and I think to myself this is great not too difficult and this is from what I thought the worst of the two summits.
Down the ledges into the col and up to BC a little less than a mile then down to the valley and I am home free.
Well going up BC's west flank I found all the Balsam Spruce and blow down I ever want to see again. Pushing through tree after tree only to find another tree lying down to bar progress. It was about a mile to the summit and two hours of slow flesh slicing advancement. Pants, jacket and gloves did not protect my skin adequately from getting cut and stabbed at.
Well I finally made it and I found the cannister quickly.
Now I am done. I took a little break had a sandwhich and some fluids and pushed back down through the atrocious thick of trees.
Now in the valley I had a nice hike through the open woods and followed the river back to camp. Made some dinner and relaxed read a little before bed.
Sunday was one of the best weather days I can remember. Warm Sunny and low wind. I lounged around camp had a slow enjoyable breakfast and then broke down camp. I was too nice to leave so I made my way up toward Slide and stopped at the Curtis Ormsbee TH just to enjoy the day a bit longer.
What a great bunch of mountains I enjoyed everyone of them and can't wait to hike them all again and all the other trails and trailess peaks I have not made my way through.
This weekend I realized that I love the accomplishment of completing the list but I more enjoy being out there in beautiful weather all you senses alive and drinking in the natural beauty around you what a thrill.
Al
Al
I left LI at around 4AM and arrived at the Denning TH at 7am. I geared up and went in to set up camp at the legal site just across the Neversink river.
It was a beautiful clear day in the upper 30s at the start. I got the camp set up and was off at 8:30am happy in the fact that I was going to finish the Catskills; summer anyway, winter to follow.
I followed the herd path along the south side of the Neversink and it was easy going lost the path while crossing back and forth some creeks and run off tributaries coming down for the north side of Table and Lone but pretty easy none the less.
What a great day cool frost on the ground and some melting off the branches as the sun rose over the tops of the southern mountains and hit the trees. Some parts of the Neversink are really gorgeous the way the rock is worn down and the water travelling through over and around the more stubborn bands of rock. Hiking west I kept watching the sun shine drop further and further down the south face of Slide until it reached the valley floor was a great way to watch the time pass as I made my way to the end of the river and my turn south up to the col between BC and Rocky.
All was great until that slip on the dew covered rocks which, before I put my foot down to push off new would slip and tried anyway. Well the river is cold this time of year but not as cold as I thought it would be.
I was probably too mad at myself for doing such a stupid thing that the temperature did not bother me.
So after taking off the boots socks and yes pants and wringing them out as best I could I decided to continue on instead of going back for a change of clothes which was an hour away. I went on a little cold but manageable. As the sun came over to hit me I warmed up and felt pretty good.
I pushed up toward the summit of Rocky actually turning south and then back west to the summit of Rocky. I have read that the summit of Rocky although low in altitude was dense with Balsam and Spruce, after the experience I disagree it was dense but not as bad as others. the ledges on the north face two sections in fact were more difficult to negotiate than the trees. The summit was fairly open and I found the cannister easily. Now only one more to go and I think to myself this is great not too difficult and this is from what I thought the worst of the two summits.
Down the ledges into the col and up to BC a little less than a mile then down to the valley and I am home free.
Well going up BC's west flank I found all the Balsam Spruce and blow down I ever want to see again. Pushing through tree after tree only to find another tree lying down to bar progress. It was about a mile to the summit and two hours of slow flesh slicing advancement. Pants, jacket and gloves did not protect my skin adequately from getting cut and stabbed at.
Well I finally made it and I found the cannister quickly.
Now I am done. I took a little break had a sandwhich and some fluids and pushed back down through the atrocious thick of trees.
Now in the valley I had a nice hike through the open woods and followed the river back to camp. Made some dinner and relaxed read a little before bed.
Sunday was one of the best weather days I can remember. Warm Sunny and low wind. I lounged around camp had a slow enjoyable breakfast and then broke down camp. I was too nice to leave so I made my way up toward Slide and stopped at the Curtis Ormsbee TH just to enjoy the day a bit longer.
What a great bunch of mountains I enjoyed everyone of them and can't wait to hike them all again and all the other trails and trailess peaks I have not made my way through.
This weekend I realized that I love the accomplishment of completing the list but I more enjoy being out there in beautiful weather all you senses alive and drinking in the natural beauty around you what a thrill.
Al
Al
