Mark Schaefer
08-09-2006, 05:24 AM
August 8. The early blackberries of what will be a bumper crop are now ripe. As this mountain lacks raspberries and blueberries, I can only rate it "one berry", just a berry good mountain.
The Cathedral Glen is among my favorite trails. The name of the glen is derived from the tall hemlock trees. The 2005 ADK Catskill Trails guidebook has a statement: "Legal access from the railroad bed in Pine Hill is not available (in spite of signs and markers)." I believe this is erroneous. Ulster County owns the right of way, and a rail trail is in the planning stages. There is no reason why hikers cannot use the access from Pine Hill. Between the time the book was written in 2002 and the time it was finally published in 2005, I used that access three times without incident. However, the ADK book does suggest an alternative access from the Belleayre Ski Center's Discovery Lodge which intrigued me. It opens up the potential of many nice loops. So I choose variation of that suggestion for a new wrinkle on this familiar mountain.
The Belleayre Ski Center website (http://www.belleayre.com/summer/hiking.htm) states "Here at Belleayre Mountain you can hike any ski trail". So you are free to design your own agenda and wander as you like. There are overview and detailed section ski maps (http://www.belleayre.com/maps/mainmap.htm) which I printed. These are not very accurate, so some flexibility is needed.
I started from the XC ski center parking area. It is just a short distance off NY 28 and CR 49A, and well signed (though not accurately located on the map). Take the left of two trails near the large ski map. This becomes the HH XC trail which leads (in about 0.6 mile) to the ski center's reservoir at Cathedral Glen. The marking is sparse at first, a couple of times the trail is in a dry wash -- this would not be a good route during wet season. There are some nettles here, but not bad. Below the reservoir is the railroad bed. Head east to the other side of the stream, and make a right onto the blue blazed Cathedral Glen hiking trail.
The first 1.15 mile of this trail climbs through a beautiful second growth hemlock glen. A few young hemlocks escaped the tanners axe. These are now 200+ years old. One just before the first ski trail is over 2' in diameter. Using the 1' = 1 century rule of thumb, I estimate it to be 225 years old. The hiking trail then climbs with the steep Cathedral Brook ski trail opening up some very nice views. The marked hiking trail turns left off the ski trail at the third ski trail junction opposite the Roaring Brook ski trail (which is on the far side of a rope fence). The turn is not well marked. As it was such a nice day I decided to continue up the steep Cathedral Brook (left) ski trail which leads to the Hirschland lean-to at the junction with the Belleayre Ridge trail. A right turn on the red Ridge trail leads to the Sunset Lodge, at the first of three ski lifts. Along this trail are excellent blackberry bushes. The 3420' summit is at the third ski lift. I stayed with the lower service road as it offers better views and then climbed up to the summit at the third lift.
For the return I continued west down the Deer Run ski trail which is a gentle grade. An "Interpretive Adventure" trail begins at the junction with the Cayuga trail. There are several info stations along the Cayuga trail. Then the Catawba Pass trail led to the Overlook Lodge. I cut over to the orange blazed "Train Station" trail which is marked along the Ashokan and Discovery Way ski trails. More blackberries along these trails. At the Discovery Lodge the "Train Station" trail turns onto the H and then AA XC trails and returns to the XC parking area.
The trail register book at the start of the "Train Station" trail was filled some time in 2003. The DEC has shown no interest in checking in on this hiking trail after it opened, which is a shame. The trail could also use more blazes especially where it changes direction on the ski trails. This was a very enjoyable hike despite the occasional route challenges.
The Cathedral Glen is among my favorite trails. The name of the glen is derived from the tall hemlock trees. The 2005 ADK Catskill Trails guidebook has a statement: "Legal access from the railroad bed in Pine Hill is not available (in spite of signs and markers)." I believe this is erroneous. Ulster County owns the right of way, and a rail trail is in the planning stages. There is no reason why hikers cannot use the access from Pine Hill. Between the time the book was written in 2002 and the time it was finally published in 2005, I used that access three times without incident. However, the ADK book does suggest an alternative access from the Belleayre Ski Center's Discovery Lodge which intrigued me. It opens up the potential of many nice loops. So I choose variation of that suggestion for a new wrinkle on this familiar mountain.
The Belleayre Ski Center website (http://www.belleayre.com/summer/hiking.htm) states "Here at Belleayre Mountain you can hike any ski trail". So you are free to design your own agenda and wander as you like. There are overview and detailed section ski maps (http://www.belleayre.com/maps/mainmap.htm) which I printed. These are not very accurate, so some flexibility is needed.
I started from the XC ski center parking area. It is just a short distance off NY 28 and CR 49A, and well signed (though not accurately located on the map). Take the left of two trails near the large ski map. This becomes the HH XC trail which leads (in about 0.6 mile) to the ski center's reservoir at Cathedral Glen. The marking is sparse at first, a couple of times the trail is in a dry wash -- this would not be a good route during wet season. There are some nettles here, but not bad. Below the reservoir is the railroad bed. Head east to the other side of the stream, and make a right onto the blue blazed Cathedral Glen hiking trail.
The first 1.15 mile of this trail climbs through a beautiful second growth hemlock glen. A few young hemlocks escaped the tanners axe. These are now 200+ years old. One just before the first ski trail is over 2' in diameter. Using the 1' = 1 century rule of thumb, I estimate it to be 225 years old. The hiking trail then climbs with the steep Cathedral Brook ski trail opening up some very nice views. The marked hiking trail turns left off the ski trail at the third ski trail junction opposite the Roaring Brook ski trail (which is on the far side of a rope fence). The turn is not well marked. As it was such a nice day I decided to continue up the steep Cathedral Brook (left) ski trail which leads to the Hirschland lean-to at the junction with the Belleayre Ridge trail. A right turn on the red Ridge trail leads to the Sunset Lodge, at the first of three ski lifts. Along this trail are excellent blackberry bushes. The 3420' summit is at the third ski lift. I stayed with the lower service road as it offers better views and then climbed up to the summit at the third lift.
For the return I continued west down the Deer Run ski trail which is a gentle grade. An "Interpretive Adventure" trail begins at the junction with the Cayuga trail. There are several info stations along the Cayuga trail. Then the Catawba Pass trail led to the Overlook Lodge. I cut over to the orange blazed "Train Station" trail which is marked along the Ashokan and Discovery Way ski trails. More blackberries along these trails. At the Discovery Lodge the "Train Station" trail turns onto the H and then AA XC trails and returns to the XC parking area.
The trail register book at the start of the "Train Station" trail was filled some time in 2003. The DEC has shown no interest in checking in on this hiking trail after it opened, which is a shame. The trail could also use more blazes especially where it changes direction on the ski trails. This was a very enjoyable hike despite the occasional route challenges.