Dick
05-02-2006, 10:24 AM
I thought I’d combine two hikes into one report. Thanks to Mark Schafer and others for their input on these trails. On Monday, April 17, Joanne and I hiked Balsam Lake Mountain. The day was in the 60’s, sunny, no wind. Due to a late start from home and a stupid wrong turn while driving, we started very late, so decided to forego Graham this time. We used the northern approach, off of Mill Brook Road, and were the only ones in the lot. In fact, we were apparently the only ones on the mountain all day, which was great. The “trail” up is really a jeep road, very wide, steep in a few places, but mostly quite moderate. Otherwise nothing particularly distinguishing about the trail, other than we’re still amazed at how open the woods are down there. We were not planning on Graham and so we weren’t looking for the turnoff. We were told that from that direction we might miss it (we did). Turning off toward the tower, the trail begins a series of very steep but short pitches, alternating with almost level ones, all the way to the summit. Close to the summit the balsam take over, with the fragrance of the trees filling our nostrils. One tiny patch of snow off the side of the trail was the only reminder of winter. The summit is sort of a smaller version of Hunter Mt.’s summit, ringed with trees and no views, with a ranger cabin, picnic table, and firetower. Joanne and firetowers don’t mix (but she’s just fine on narrow trails with 1000 ft. dropoffs in Switzerland – go figure!). The fact that there was no wind coaxed her up the tower, and she took lots of pics (coming soon). Descending, we easily saw the trail to Graham (can’t miss it from that direction). The rest of the trip back was equally uneventful.
Monday, May 1, Valerie had contacted us about wanting to do some Catskill hiking. We had planned on going back to do Graham anyway, and were always glad to have her company. I called the caretaker that weekend (Bill Scholl) for permission to hike the private mountain. He seemed surprised that I called, leading me to think that most people do not call. Very nice talk; he asked how many were going, which direction we were coming from, and told us we hike at our own risk and not to disturb anything or leave anything behind. Armed with that permission, we did the same approach as last time, on a totally sunny, slightly breezy day in the 60's. Bugs are out, but not biting yet here. The junction was burned into my memory, so it was easily located. The trip to Graham is a nice walk in the woods. First you sink like a stone, then level for a time, then climb up a series of pitches to the summit. The herdpath was wide and obvious, even easier to follow than some marked trails I’ve been on. A few blowdown sections were easily climbed through, or circumvented (some with well established herdpaths around them). Approaching the summit, we stopped at a nice lookout, and saw the remains of a power pole. The summit is small, and littered with remains of what I’m told was an old TV tower location. Central to all of this was the remains of the actual cinder block building. We took pictures of it all (including a well established fire ring – legal? Or perhaps made by landowners?). Some good views, including the tower on Balsam Lake Mt., which you can’t see from the main trail. I thought the distance from Graham to B. L. seemed much farther than from B. L. to Graham, for some reason. Anyway, back to the main trail and up Balsam Lake we went, so Val could visit. Up the tower for some views, than down for some rest and chit-chat at the picnic table, and out to the car. That makes Val a Catskill 2er, and Joanne and me Catskill 5ers. Hey, you have to start somewhere! Thanks Val for a great day, and for the tips on the GPS!
Pictures will be up soon.
Questions for anyone bothering to read this drivel this far:
1. Who does one contact for permission to climb Doubletop?
2. IF (and that’s a BIG if) we decide to do all of them, are correspondents needed, as they are in the Adirondacks?
3. I know there are three required winter hikes of specific mountains. Which ones are they?
4. We didn’t see a canister on Graham. Is there one there?
Dick and Joanne
Monday, May 1, Valerie had contacted us about wanting to do some Catskill hiking. We had planned on going back to do Graham anyway, and were always glad to have her company. I called the caretaker that weekend (Bill Scholl) for permission to hike the private mountain. He seemed surprised that I called, leading me to think that most people do not call. Very nice talk; he asked how many were going, which direction we were coming from, and told us we hike at our own risk and not to disturb anything or leave anything behind. Armed with that permission, we did the same approach as last time, on a totally sunny, slightly breezy day in the 60's. Bugs are out, but not biting yet here. The junction was burned into my memory, so it was easily located. The trip to Graham is a nice walk in the woods. First you sink like a stone, then level for a time, then climb up a series of pitches to the summit. The herdpath was wide and obvious, even easier to follow than some marked trails I’ve been on. A few blowdown sections were easily climbed through, or circumvented (some with well established herdpaths around them). Approaching the summit, we stopped at a nice lookout, and saw the remains of a power pole. The summit is small, and littered with remains of what I’m told was an old TV tower location. Central to all of this was the remains of the actual cinder block building. We took pictures of it all (including a well established fire ring – legal? Or perhaps made by landowners?). Some good views, including the tower on Balsam Lake Mt., which you can’t see from the main trail. I thought the distance from Graham to B. L. seemed much farther than from B. L. to Graham, for some reason. Anyway, back to the main trail and up Balsam Lake we went, so Val could visit. Up the tower for some views, than down for some rest and chit-chat at the picnic table, and out to the car. That makes Val a Catskill 2er, and Joanne and me Catskill 5ers. Hey, you have to start somewhere! Thanks Val for a great day, and for the tips on the GPS!
Pictures will be up soon.
Questions for anyone bothering to read this drivel this far:
1. Who does one contact for permission to climb Doubletop?
2. IF (and that’s a BIG if) we decide to do all of them, are correspondents needed, as they are in the Adirondacks?
3. I know there are three required winter hikes of specific mountains. Which ones are they?
4. We didn’t see a canister on Graham. Is there one there?
Dick and Joanne