Slide Mountain Wilderness area

[jdix]

As this trip will be my first peak bagging and bushwacking trip I have a few questions. My plan is to hike the LP from Peekamoose road to Peekamoose Mountain then hit Table. From there Bushwack to Lone, Rocky, Balsam Cap, Friday, Cornell. From Cornell I would hike Wittenberg then back down the LP, over Cornell to Slide and finishing up at my vechile on Peekamoose road.

My questions are, what type of bushwack am I in for? This seem to be fairly popular trip I am looking at. Is it a herd path or unmaintained trail or a real trailless bushwack? Second how is the water situation? I realize that you've been getting pounded with rain but it seems to be over now. Are the streams on my map a water source I can count on? The Neversink River would be ok I assume but what about these feeder streams?

Also, my map shows a primative trail following the Neversink. Should I follow that and summit each mountain in a up and back or should I basically cut a line through the each summit and make a sort of J out of the bushwack.

Any other advice anyone has would be great. Also I'm using the maps put out by the New York/ New Jersey trail conference.

[imarchant]

That is a long tough bushwack. I have not been up the Neversink side yet, but that is a popular way to go. I know the neversink is tough to cross with high water. The ridge (Lone, Rocky, Balsam Cap, Friday, Cornell) is very thick spruce with no water. There is an excellent spring 0.25 mile before the summit of Slide at the top of the ladders.
How many days are you planning? I would not attempt this in one day with out a bailout point.

[jdix]

I'm planning on 3-5 days down there. When I complete this loop I'm thinking of depending on how much time I have left adding in Big Indian and Fir. Then possibly just a overnighter somewhere else in the cat's
That loop would be just a bit out of my day hiking range.

[Mark Schaefer]

Welcome to the forum. This is a great hike, especially in the longer days of summer. Going peak to peak there is no reason to drop all the way to the Neversink, unless you want to find a better camp site for a multiple day hike. But in summer this can be all done as a very long day hike. As Ian mentioned there are no real water sources on the ridge other than the springs that are shown along the trails: south of Peekamoose, east of Slide, and west of Table, as shown on the NY/NJ map. The one on Slide usually runs all summer. The other springs can slow to a trickle and even dry up in the summer. So it is best to bring what you will need. Dropping down to one of the streams is the other option.

There is an embryonic herd path to Lone that starts from the Peekamoose - Table saddle, just as you begin to climb Table. It is not continuous to Lone, but it will get you started. The route to Lone is generally not too thick or difficult. From Lone over Rocky to Balsam Cap you are mostly on your own. You might find short paths near the canisters. The growth can be quite thick. I have generally dropped towards the Neversink to avoid the really dense stuff, but others may advise the other side. Your experience is likely to vary from all the advice.

From Balsam Cap to Friday you should be able to follow the herd path that comes up from the east. This will not cost you much in elevation on the east side of the ridge as they come from a common route/point.

From Friday to Cornell you are on your own again. This is where it really gets thick. There is no good way as you plow through. One question is whether you want to climb "Dink", a 3655' false summit of Cornell shown the maps. In reality it has two summits, neither has a view. The going is a little less thick bypassing them on the Neversink side, but not by much based on my experiences.

Don't plan to go any faster than 1 mile per hour on the bushwhacking, but YMMV. Once you hit the trails you can resume to your normal pace. Going down the Curtis Ormsbee trail from Slide is nice, watch for the viewpoints which tend to be on short unmarked paths.

The viewpoint just west of the summit of Table is worth looking for - on an unmarked side path. There is also a worthwhile viewpoint, about 0.1 mile south of the Peekamoose summit (not shown on the map) -- on a faint unmarked path east of the trail.

One suggestion, you might want to consider starting/ending at the Denning trailhead. That way you would not have to climb Table and Peekamoose at the end of a very long hike. Psychologically it can be much easier. The Denning trailhead is also several hundred feet higher than the Peekamoose Rd trailhead, so it will save you some elevation. Also if for some reason you have to bail out along the bushwhack it is relatively easy to descend to the Neversink to return to the trailhead. A note on the wilderness (Fisherman's) path along the Neversink. The several floods during the last two years have washed out some sections - so do not expect it to be continuous. You may see some occasional, unofficial red blazes. If the water is running high (usually uncommon in summer) you might want to stay on whichever side you wish to exit the valley. The log bridge at the Peekamoose-Table trail (Long Path) has been washed out for some time, though it is possible to shimmy or walk across depending on your tolerance level for such things. If you choose not to use the bridge stream crossings during summer are usually not too difficult, though generally easier further upstream from the trail crossing.

[jdix]

Great info thanx. I like the idea of starting at Denning RD. I was planning on going over Dink. Thought maybe I could catch a few views to the East along the ridge line. Also what do the canister's look like and how hard are they to find? I know you said there maybe a few paths around the canister.

Thanx for the help and to finally find that "other forum"

[Mark Schaefer]

The canisters are made of PVC plastic which has been painted gray (as are all of the ones in wilderness areas) so as not to be too intrusive. You should not have too much trouble finding them. Before the herd paths formed the one on Friday was difficult to find owing to the flat rounded summit. With the herd path it is now much easier to find. The others are generally easier to find as the summits are smaller in area. I think Ian or others have some photos that could provide a link to.

If you are backpacking there are possible camp sites in the Slide / Cornell saddle. Other than that good campsites might be difficult to find along the ridge lines, and/or they may be above 3500' making camping illegal. Also be careful not to lose things tied to your pack as you bushwhack through the thick stuff. Those tree are known to steal anything that is not tightly secured to your pack.

[billandjudy]

Having BW'd from the Slide- Cornell col to Friday I will attest to it's difficulty. It is incrediby thick. It took an hour and a half to get to Friday- the conditions betwen Friday and Balsam Cap are a little better w/ a distinct path to follow. I followed a route over Dink on the way and hugged the east ridge on the way back--not much difference. Here's a report--
http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1358

[jdix]

Looks like I'm shooting for July 18-20. If anyone wants to go out for all or part of this let me know. I'm hoping to get Big Indian and Fir into this also, I'll stay an extra day if the weather and my feet hold out.

[jdix]

Well the trip didn't go as planned. I arrived on Tuesday evening around 6:00. Right away things went bad. First my walking pole was weilded shut by some unknown force. Not a big deal just a minor inconvienence. The hike up to the lean-to was nice. A little tiring have been on my feet since 1:30 am but nice. I made it to the lean-to and got the platapus bag out and headed off to the spring only to find a tiny trickle that was hardly noticeable. After 15 minutes of trenching and building I had a little aquaduct built. While waiting for the water to settle I watched what believe was either a fight to the death or some sort of tantric mating ritual between 2 squirles. Either way it was neat to watch. 30 minutes later, I had a few litters in the bag and back to camp I went. By this time its dark and I stumble in with a few branches I found for the fire. After digging out the headlamp, starting a fire, eating I go and hang my bag. I find what I assume is another rope from someone else's dinner bag tangled in the tree's. This leaves me to belive it was the remains of a suprise raid from the locals. With this knowledge I place my bag on a much better branch a few inches away and call it a night. In the morning much to my suprise, it was still there. I leave camp around 5:30 am and have Table and Peekamoose climb shortly after. While sitting on a rock on the back side of Peekamoose checking my maps and enjoying some water I drop my compass. No big deal I'll just jump off the rock and get it. The big deal was landing on it and crushing it. Trip over. This being my first trip to the Cat's I didn't feel a bushwack over 4 peaks without a compass was in my better judgement, but hell I'll try anything. Loading the peice's up, I trek back to the herd path that will send me to Lone and God know's where else. About 50' down trail it sudenly clicks in what I'm about to do and I put the skirt back on and head for home. I was a rocky and humbling start to the 35's. Look's like I'll be heading down again soon enough though. Here's a link to a few of the pic's I took.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/pilotamis/my_photos

[billandjudy]

Bummer!! :cry: You made the right decision--it's way to easy to get lost in the thick stuff, although by just following the rule of "down" you would have made the river.

[Mark Schaefer]

Yeah, bummer on the equipment. Carrying two compasses is often recommended. It's advice that I have not yet taken :rolleyes: - but should. Note to self ...

:tup: Even if it was not what you were looking for, you still got in two summits on your first Catskill hike. The other mountains will always be there for another hike.

Your retreat was probably wise. It is easy to get confused in that thick stuff. The first time I did 8 of those summits (w/o Wittenberg) as my first ever bushwhack, and as a solo day hike - I got temporarily misplaced (a.k.a.lost) twice. I estimate I hiked an extra 3 miles, and needed every available minute of daylight. Each problem resulted from relying too much on sight and not enough on the compass. The compass eventually got me back on course.

Next time you can probably head up the fisherman's path a ways to start with Lone. The vicinity of Donovan Brook with its more northern branch can offer a line. You may or may not see some fragments of paths - not that you would need them.

I see you took your Table summit photo in front of the tree that formerly held the canister (three bolts still visible). Table had been trailless until the LP was cut there in 1972. The canister remained until the late 1980s.

[rockysummit]

Welcome to the Catskills! I too need to carry a second compass and never remember to get it. You made a good decision on cutting your trip short. That area the further you go is probably the most remote part of the Cats. You got a couple of peeks and a good taste of what the Catskills are about. Like everyone else said, the mountains aren't going anywhere!

[MattC]

I recently added a second compass to my pack, since my old one is a bit worn. You never know, as you found out. Very good decision to head out. The thick stuff on Rocky, while it doesn't last that long, can push you in weird directions. I have needed to look at my compass more than once up there. Observational navigation is an important skill, but it's hard to rely on when all you can see is spruce branches in your face or blowdown birch eating your ankles. Sounds like an okay first trip nonetheless. Welcome to the Catskills.

Matt

[Jay H]

I have a suunto vector and it has an electronic compass which I never use, however, it would make for a decent backup compass in an emergency. Many GPSs have such a thing too, such as my Etrex Vista.

Jay

[chip]

I am considering this approx 18 mile loop as an overnight that would cross Table, Peekamoose, Lone, Rocky, Balsam Cap, Friday, Cornell, Wittenberg and Slide. This would begin from 42 (requires a car spot) or 47 (Oliverea Rd ?) on Peekamoose Tabel Trail, be a whack from Table to Balsam Cap, camp somewhere up there and then whack to Friday and Cornell and take the Wittenberg Cornell Trail out to Wittenberg and then double back to Slide and out to 47. Total daily mileage isn't bad but I'm concerned about time required for the whacks and I wouldn't go if the weather looked very wet, but if someone who's done this before is interested I'm looking at Sep 30 & Oct 1.

[daLunartik]

I am considering this approx 18 mile loop as an overnight that would cross Table, Peekamoose, Lone, Rocky, Balsam Cap, Friday, Cornell, Wittenberg and Slide. This would begin from 42 (requires a car spot) or 47 (Oliverea Rd ?) on Peekamoose Tabel Trail, be a whack from Table to Balsam Cap, camp somewhere up there and then whack to Friday and Cornell and take the Wittenberg Cornell Trail out to Wittenberg and then double back to Slide and out to 47. Total daily mileage isn't bad but I'm concerned about time required for the whacks and I wouldn't go if the weather looked very wet, but if someone who's done this before is interested I'm looking at Sep 30 & Oct 1.
FWIW, a few weeks ago, imarchant, HauntedFox (a non forum member) and I whacked up Friday over to BC>Rocky, skirted Lone due to injury, Table and Peekamoose. Balsam Cap to Rocky was thick - not sure I'd want try that with an overnight pack. I don't think you'll have too much of an issue between Table and Lone, Lone and Rocky or BC and Friday. My understanding is it is also very thick between Friday and Cornell. With daypacks, our whack from Moon Haw rd over to Table took us nearly 12 hrs - we spent an hour on Friday looking for the canister, and generally avereaged about .7 mph. We were also hampered by an injury, rain and eventual darkness.

All that being said, I'm pretty sure there are others on this forum who have done the route you are talking about - mudhook?

[mudhook]

I am considering this approx 18 mile loop as an overnight that would cross Table, Peekamoose, Lone, Rocky, Balsam Cap, Friday, Cornell, Wittenberg and Slide. This would begin from 42 (requires a car spot) or 47 (Oliverea Rd ?) on Peekamoose Tabel Trail, be a whack from Table to Balsam Cap, camp somewhere up there and then whack to Friday and Cornell and take the Wittenberg Cornell Trail out to Wittenberg and then double back to Slide and out to 47. Total daily mileage isn't bad but I'm concerned about time required for the whacks and I wouldn't go if the weather looked very wet, but if someone who's done this before is interested I'm looking at Sep 30 & Oct 1.
A very nice trail and bushwack hike covering the best of the Catskills. All it lacks is nettles. The four little ones are my favorites.

[LtHiker]

Just found your thread on this trip. I haven't been on this site in a while. I did this trip in the late spring and it was fabulous. We were really concerned after all of the info about how bad this bushwack is, you are brave to select it as your first 35.
We lucked into(skill maybe) hitting all of the peaks without major bushwacking and stayed out of the thick stuff. One of the other guys on the trip had tried it before and failed. All he kept saying was, "it was much thicker the way I went".

Good luck on getting your 35. I am about 9 away, all bushwacks except a couple.