Mark Schaefer
07-26-2006, 12:01 AM
Certainly not a Catskill HH, this little 2100' mountain just north of Woodstock NY may not even be in the top 500. The lower southern slopes of Guardian are owned by the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild (http://www.woodstockguild.org/) (artist community). The upper sections are owned by the Town of Woodstock. Both owners permit hiking, and there is a well-worn trail sparsely marked with yellow paint blazes. In general not difficult to follow, but care is needed at junctions with side paths. Camping, fires, hunting are not permitted. The mountain is open dawn to dusk only. The mountain "guards" the northern flank above Bearsville and Woodstock. The Guild and the town have been purchasing up parcels on Guardian and Overlook to ensure these mountains are preserved from large scale development. The trail and 2100' summit (east most of 3) are now fully protected. A 1100' climb, about 4 mile round trip, many short switchbacks, about 3 hours at a very leisurely pace.
The Catskill Mountain Club (CMC) has a Mt Guardian trail report (http://www.catskillmountainclub.org/ott/12_01_03.html). When I stopped to ask for directions at the Byrdcliffe Theater (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4656332&e=571252&size=l&datum=nad83) on Upper Byrdcliffe Road to confirm for trailhead directions I was asked to park next to the theater and to walk the road to the trailhead. It is an approximate 0.4 mile walk on the road signed "Byrdcliffe Way" on the east side of the theater. In the CMC report the authors were able to drive to a parking area at the trailhead. The former parking area is now marked "No parking". So indeed you do now need to park at the theater. Along the way you will pass several "Private road, No Trespassing" signs, however, I was assured that the public could walk the road to the trailhead. You pass perhaps a dozen artist homes. The sign for #77 on the left has an artsy, large, purple, seven petal flower. Shortly after is a large white house close to the road on the right. Just past is its white garage with a #98 sign. On the left opposite the garage is the trailhead with a handmade trail sign. A metal chain blocks the entrance. The trail passes through a former gravel pit, which may have been the former parking area, now closed. Another trail sign is at the far side of the gravel pit.,
The trail follows an old bluestone quarry road and starts somewhat east of the stream that flows from the cleft between the two eastern summits. In the lower slopes it briefly crosses to the west side of the stream. It climbs up through a hemlock glen and then recrosses the stream back to the east. The stream had only a trickle of water above first crossing, but was dry directly under the trail bridge. There are no other sources along the trail so BYO. The trail turns left as it passes the small bluestone quarry where there are some views of Overlook Mt. As the trail nears the 2000' level an unmarked trail forks left at a small boulder. Hoping for a view I followed the left fork, and soon flushed a gaggle of 5 grouse - never seen so many together before. Indeed this led to a boulder with a nice open southern view. I returned to the trail and continued up. The blazes end at another open view at the 2000' level - this is essentially the same as the prior view, perhaps not quite as nice. In the foreground is a view of the village of Woodstock. Above were Ohayo, Tonshi, and Ticetonyck Mts. I could just faintly make out Ashokan High Point, Little Rocky, and Balsam Cap through the thick haze. I suspect the Shawangunk Ridge would be visible on a clear day.
Above this point there are no blazes, but a fairly good herd path leads towards (but not all the way to) the 2100' summit. Initially the woods are quite open, but the gnarly mountain laurel is quite thick near and north of the summit. The CMC report mentioned a beautiful north view (it appears to be a through the tree view in their photograph). I suspect it must be near the 2000' contour on the north edge of the wide rounded summit. But I was gnarled out before I got there. Decided to save it for a better, more clear day. I tried the western side of the summit ridge coming back. It was even more thick and gnarly then the center. Perhaps the east side of the summit ridge would be a better route to the northern view. Finding the herd path and the top of the marked trail was no problem. I never once consulted my compass nor map generated from topozone (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4657074&e=571009&size=l&symshow=n&datum=nad83).
The vegetation very much resembles the scrubby oak and laurel Shawangunk Ridge foliage. Hemlocks in the low glens, much white pine, and just a few spruce on top. This is very characteristic of the southeastern slopes of the Catskills. Many other hardwoods as well. There are ample blueberry and huckleberry patches near the summit just coming into their prime. No nettles, few bugs. A great little mountain.
The Catskill Mountain Club (CMC) has a Mt Guardian trail report (http://www.catskillmountainclub.org/ott/12_01_03.html). When I stopped to ask for directions at the Byrdcliffe Theater (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4656332&e=571252&size=l&datum=nad83) on Upper Byrdcliffe Road to confirm for trailhead directions I was asked to park next to the theater and to walk the road to the trailhead. It is an approximate 0.4 mile walk on the road signed "Byrdcliffe Way" on the east side of the theater. In the CMC report the authors were able to drive to a parking area at the trailhead. The former parking area is now marked "No parking". So indeed you do now need to park at the theater. Along the way you will pass several "Private road, No Trespassing" signs, however, I was assured that the public could walk the road to the trailhead. You pass perhaps a dozen artist homes. The sign for #77 on the left has an artsy, large, purple, seven petal flower. Shortly after is a large white house close to the road on the right. Just past is its white garage with a #98 sign. On the left opposite the garage is the trailhead with a handmade trail sign. A metal chain blocks the entrance. The trail passes through a former gravel pit, which may have been the former parking area, now closed. Another trail sign is at the far side of the gravel pit.,
The trail follows an old bluestone quarry road and starts somewhat east of the stream that flows from the cleft between the two eastern summits. In the lower slopes it briefly crosses to the west side of the stream. It climbs up through a hemlock glen and then recrosses the stream back to the east. The stream had only a trickle of water above first crossing, but was dry directly under the trail bridge. There are no other sources along the trail so BYO. The trail turns left as it passes the small bluestone quarry where there are some views of Overlook Mt. As the trail nears the 2000' level an unmarked trail forks left at a small boulder. Hoping for a view I followed the left fork, and soon flushed a gaggle of 5 grouse - never seen so many together before. Indeed this led to a boulder with a nice open southern view. I returned to the trail and continued up. The blazes end at another open view at the 2000' level - this is essentially the same as the prior view, perhaps not quite as nice. In the foreground is a view of the village of Woodstock. Above were Ohayo, Tonshi, and Ticetonyck Mts. I could just faintly make out Ashokan High Point, Little Rocky, and Balsam Cap through the thick haze. I suspect the Shawangunk Ridge would be visible on a clear day.
Above this point there are no blazes, but a fairly good herd path leads towards (but not all the way to) the 2100' summit. Initially the woods are quite open, but the gnarly mountain laurel is quite thick near and north of the summit. The CMC report mentioned a beautiful north view (it appears to be a through the tree view in their photograph). I suspect it must be near the 2000' contour on the north edge of the wide rounded summit. But I was gnarled out before I got there. Decided to save it for a better, more clear day. I tried the western side of the summit ridge coming back. It was even more thick and gnarly then the center. Perhaps the east side of the summit ridge would be a better route to the northern view. Finding the herd path and the top of the marked trail was no problem. I never once consulted my compass nor map generated from topozone (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4657074&e=571009&size=l&symshow=n&datum=nad83).
The vegetation very much resembles the scrubby oak and laurel Shawangunk Ridge foliage. Hemlocks in the low glens, much white pine, and just a few spruce on top. This is very characteristic of the southeastern slopes of the Catskills. Many other hardwoods as well. There are ample blueberry and huckleberry patches near the summit just coming into their prime. No nettles, few bugs. A great little mountain.