Dennis C.
Active member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2003
- Messages
- 460
- Reaction score
- 28
Sat. 5/23 Barkaboom Mt. (3100') & Cradle Rock Ridge (3160'): SonnyM and I arrived early afternoon in the Southwest Catskill Mountains area for a weekend of 100 highest peak bagging. We started off with an easy 500 ft. right angle bushwhack ascent of Barkaboom Mt. from Cross Mountain Road, then headed south to Alder Lake, a very popular tent camping and outdoor enthusiast area. Still having enough daylight, we hiked along the lake trail and beyond, then whacked south to get the trail-less Cradle Rock Ridge summit.
Sun. 5/24 Mill Brook Ridge (3480') & Hodge Pond Mt. (2985'): Hiked the trail from Alder Lake east to Beecher Lake shelter, then up the steeper north slope to the Mill Brook Ridge and summit. Trail condition report: There are quite a number of blow downs needing heavy duty saw work. Got Hodge Pond Mt. from the sharp bend Forest Preserve parking spot along Shin Creek Road in the afternoon.
Mon. 5/25 Willowemoc (3224'), Sand Pond Mt. (3062') & Mongaup Mt. (3177'): Used Hardenburg Trail on early morning ascent of two Beaver Kill Ridge peaks. Trail condition report: We removed as many loose branches along pathway as possible. This trail needs extensive chainsaw work. Sonny continued along the ridge trail from the Sand Pond summit and bushwhacked over to Mongaup. I backtracked along the trail, retrieved our vehicle, and drove around to meet him in late afternoon at the sharp bend of Shin Creek Road.
Tues. 5/26 Woodpecker Ridge (3460'): From the trail head, we stayed left of the private posted entrance road to Balsam Lake, then entered marked Forest Preserve woods on a west heading to the narrow lake outlet stream gorge. We crossed, then climbed about 500 vertical feet to get onto the Woodpecker southern ridge and followed open woods north to the summit. Reversing the route, we were back and heading home just after noon.
It was just a delightful weekend of hiking with great weather!
Sun. 5/24 Mill Brook Ridge (3480') & Hodge Pond Mt. (2985'): Hiked the trail from Alder Lake east to Beecher Lake shelter, then up the steeper north slope to the Mill Brook Ridge and summit. Trail condition report: There are quite a number of blow downs needing heavy duty saw work. Got Hodge Pond Mt. from the sharp bend Forest Preserve parking spot along Shin Creek Road in the afternoon.
Mon. 5/25 Willowemoc (3224'), Sand Pond Mt. (3062') & Mongaup Mt. (3177'): Used Hardenburg Trail on early morning ascent of two Beaver Kill Ridge peaks. Trail condition report: We removed as many loose branches along pathway as possible. This trail needs extensive chainsaw work. Sonny continued along the ridge trail from the Sand Pond summit and bushwhacked over to Mongaup. I backtracked along the trail, retrieved our vehicle, and drove around to meet him in late afternoon at the sharp bend of Shin Creek Road.
Tues. 5/26 Woodpecker Ridge (3460'): From the trail head, we stayed left of the private posted entrance road to Balsam Lake, then entered marked Forest Preserve woods on a west heading to the narrow lake outlet stream gorge. We crossed, then climbed about 500 vertical feet to get onto the Woodpecker southern ridge and followed open woods north to the summit. Reversing the route, we were back and heading home just after noon.
It was just a delightful weekend of hiking with great weather!
