Woolybear
01-16-2010, 01:10 AM
Sugarloaf, Twin, and Indian Head
January 15th 2010 ,Woolybear (Paul), SlimJim (Jim), Woodzy (Mike)
You don’t always get to start the day the way you want. Do to childcare issues Mike was not able to arrive at the set time for this outing. This lead to us not being able to hit the Sugarloaf trail head at roaring brook (after a car sot at prediger rd) until just short of 10 am. For the record both parking areas and associated roads are in wonderful shape.
Sugarloaf
The day started out promising wonderful views and warm temps and at the start in the morning the temps were relatively warm (the promised views would later not work out). This however lead to soft sticky snow (not our favorite). The trail up to the col and ultimately the summit of Sugarloaf was well traveled and in good shape. We snowshoed all the way to the top and for me it was the first time I got the use the televators (or whatever there called) on my MSR’s and I got to say they were worth the money. http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2569019910105384701ULYdvy Both Jim and Mike found the prospect of our return decent down to the col in snowshoes less than pleasant but we were prepared. After taking in the view off the western side of Sugarloaf and a short meal sheltered by pines we started our decent. http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2520477330105384701AAMOTD About were the pitch becomes precipitous we switched from snowshoes to crampons. For both the guys this was there first time on crampons and would be a learning experience. Took some time to get them set up and going (what can you do). And we’re off. The crampons provide just that little bit of extra grip that makes a steep decent is no longer mentally taxing just technical. Of course there were some early bugs with binding issues and not to far down the slope Jim realized that he had lost his camera (a gift). This all lead to waiting and some backtracking leading to a ultimate retrieval of the electronics (in tacked). At this point we had burned a lot of the day and it seemed like events were going to keep us from getting any more mountains in. But we finally got settled in and shot down the mountain back to the col at a pretty good clip.
Twin
Twin from the Sugarloaf/Twin col is not a favorite Catskill hike of mine. In fact I personally think this is one of the more challenging and stressful approaches to any summit n the Catskills. There was a real possibility in my mind that we may have to turn around and not do it. Now that being said there was no trail broken up Twin from the col but the snow was hard (mostly) so we headed up in crampons. To my surprise the first bolder fall on the way up was so much easier in the ice and snow then in summer conditions. We just breezed right over it. No problems till we hit that steep rock stretch about a third of the way up. Here though we could get up we had serious issues with peoples poles falling back down (off the rocks into space then down, down, down). Thankfully I was a still at the bottom making gear retrieval into a non issue. Watching the gear tumble through space seemed to spook Jim a little making the climb perhaps a little more stressful for him than it already was. Ultimately with a lot of patience, cursing, and some gear wrangling we did make it up (thank you God for good crampons). This would have been a happy moment if not for the fact that in a tight space with all of us trying to get up off the top of the ledge/cliff I got Mike’s ice axe in the eye (now at this point in the story people have their opinions about needing/not needing ice axes. Twin on the western approach is one of the few places in the Catskills were I think a ice axe has some real uses. I like to be prepared because I don’t always go the easy way). Back to the ice axe in the eye. Mike had it on the back of his pack at this point and spun around not realizing how close he was as well as not being used to having it on his pack (not his fault). Thankfully I wear glasses. So they were able to deflect the point away from my eyeball and down resulting in a cut (not to bad) along the lower eyelid. Suffice to say I am staying the hell away form Mikes pack for some time to come. The rest of the trip up and over Twin was relatively uneventful though tiring since that .7 miles form the col to the top is pretty steep and steady. By the time we made the eastern peak of Twin we were fast approaching sunset and trying to keep a good pace going. http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2684802640105384701zfRDyh Our trip down to the Indian head col provide Jim with some wonderful long distance but sliding (like he was at a water park) and sadly resulted in Mike snapping one of his hiking poles in half. Other than that we made it to the Indian Head/ Twin col 15 minutes or so after sunsets in the dark.
Indian Head
Indian Head being only .4 miles form the col is just to close not to get and we have grown used to hiking in the dark so there was no deterrent there. Once again no broken trail up Indian Head (so for all the Martin Luther King holiday tourist, your welcome). Even though we were getting a little worn down and hungry (for real, warm food) we made the trip up and back down Indian Head fairly quickly and uneventfully.
The trail form the col down to prediger rd. was ok. It was in great shape at the bottom and about half way down but from the top to the half way point it was all bare booted postholes. Hopefully the wind will fill them in. Out at 8pm.
As a closing note stopped at O’Neills Public House in Tannersville for food on the way home. Very good food (a little pricey) with ok service. Next time we’ll take up recommendations and try something else in Tannersville. Nothing like good food after a hike (any hike).
January 15th 2010 ,Woolybear (Paul), SlimJim (Jim), Woodzy (Mike)
You don’t always get to start the day the way you want. Do to childcare issues Mike was not able to arrive at the set time for this outing. This lead to us not being able to hit the Sugarloaf trail head at roaring brook (after a car sot at prediger rd) until just short of 10 am. For the record both parking areas and associated roads are in wonderful shape.
Sugarloaf
The day started out promising wonderful views and warm temps and at the start in the morning the temps were relatively warm (the promised views would later not work out). This however lead to soft sticky snow (not our favorite). The trail up to the col and ultimately the summit of Sugarloaf was well traveled and in good shape. We snowshoed all the way to the top and for me it was the first time I got the use the televators (or whatever there called) on my MSR’s and I got to say they were worth the money. http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2569019910105384701ULYdvy Both Jim and Mike found the prospect of our return decent down to the col in snowshoes less than pleasant but we were prepared. After taking in the view off the western side of Sugarloaf and a short meal sheltered by pines we started our decent. http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2520477330105384701AAMOTD About were the pitch becomes precipitous we switched from snowshoes to crampons. For both the guys this was there first time on crampons and would be a learning experience. Took some time to get them set up and going (what can you do). And we’re off. The crampons provide just that little bit of extra grip that makes a steep decent is no longer mentally taxing just technical. Of course there were some early bugs with binding issues and not to far down the slope Jim realized that he had lost his camera (a gift). This all lead to waiting and some backtracking leading to a ultimate retrieval of the electronics (in tacked). At this point we had burned a lot of the day and it seemed like events were going to keep us from getting any more mountains in. But we finally got settled in and shot down the mountain back to the col at a pretty good clip.
Twin
Twin from the Sugarloaf/Twin col is not a favorite Catskill hike of mine. In fact I personally think this is one of the more challenging and stressful approaches to any summit n the Catskills. There was a real possibility in my mind that we may have to turn around and not do it. Now that being said there was no trail broken up Twin from the col but the snow was hard (mostly) so we headed up in crampons. To my surprise the first bolder fall on the way up was so much easier in the ice and snow then in summer conditions. We just breezed right over it. No problems till we hit that steep rock stretch about a third of the way up. Here though we could get up we had serious issues with peoples poles falling back down (off the rocks into space then down, down, down). Thankfully I was a still at the bottom making gear retrieval into a non issue. Watching the gear tumble through space seemed to spook Jim a little making the climb perhaps a little more stressful for him than it already was. Ultimately with a lot of patience, cursing, and some gear wrangling we did make it up (thank you God for good crampons). This would have been a happy moment if not for the fact that in a tight space with all of us trying to get up off the top of the ledge/cliff I got Mike’s ice axe in the eye (now at this point in the story people have their opinions about needing/not needing ice axes. Twin on the western approach is one of the few places in the Catskills were I think a ice axe has some real uses. I like to be prepared because I don’t always go the easy way). Back to the ice axe in the eye. Mike had it on the back of his pack at this point and spun around not realizing how close he was as well as not being used to having it on his pack (not his fault). Thankfully I wear glasses. So they were able to deflect the point away from my eyeball and down resulting in a cut (not to bad) along the lower eyelid. Suffice to say I am staying the hell away form Mikes pack for some time to come. The rest of the trip up and over Twin was relatively uneventful though tiring since that .7 miles form the col to the top is pretty steep and steady. By the time we made the eastern peak of Twin we were fast approaching sunset and trying to keep a good pace going. http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2684802640105384701zfRDyh Our trip down to the Indian head col provide Jim with some wonderful long distance but sliding (like he was at a water park) and sadly resulted in Mike snapping one of his hiking poles in half. Other than that we made it to the Indian Head/ Twin col 15 minutes or so after sunsets in the dark.
Indian Head
Indian Head being only .4 miles form the col is just to close not to get and we have grown used to hiking in the dark so there was no deterrent there. Once again no broken trail up Indian Head (so for all the Martin Luther King holiday tourist, your welcome). Even though we were getting a little worn down and hungry (for real, warm food) we made the trip up and back down Indian Head fairly quickly and uneventfully.
The trail form the col down to prediger rd. was ok. It was in great shape at the bottom and about half way down but from the top to the half way point it was all bare booted postholes. Hopefully the wind will fill them in. Out at 8pm.
As a closing note stopped at O’Neills Public House in Tannersville for food on the way home. Very good food (a little pricey) with ok service. Next time we’ll take up recommendations and try something else in Tannersville. Nothing like good food after a hike (any hike).