Panther, Couch, Santanoni 8/25

[Rik]

Charlene, Dali, and I set out yesterday to climb 2 or 3 peaks in the Santanoni Range. I had mixed feelings about this trip after reading about and seeing photos of the recent damage done to the herd paths. More about that in a minute. It was almost 7:30am when we left the parking area. There was a few cars in the lot when we got there and one woman just starting her hike. We gave her some time to get ahead of us but caught her right where the trail leaves the road. So far the stroll down the road was uneventful. When we approached the junction and the other hiker I restrained Dali but the other hiker immediately made it clear she was nervous. She said she had been recently attacked by a dog. We agreed to go ahead of her. I felt bad for her that she could be so scared. Certainly, Dali isn't very intimidating but I don't think she ever looked at Dali, I think she just saw DOG. The Bradley Pond trail was great. Relatively dry. Of course there was mud but compared to the last several times I had been there it was pretty good. We had been saving this trip for later in the summer and hopefully after a dry spell. I was regretting that decision after reading about the blazing of the herd path but now it was looking like a fine choice. Then we got to the herd path. The large tree is still across the trail right before the path and a path has formed around the tree connecting the trail and the herd path. It was a nice cool morning with sun just peaking out from behind the clouds every now and then. There were no bugs all day which makes this time of year such a treat. As we entered the woods I wanted to cry and scream at the same time. I would say the estimates of 75-100 trees damaged is probably close but I wasn't going to further effect my day by counting damaged trees. My guess would be closer to 100 trees cut. At first they were very frequent. Sometimes only a few feet apart. Sometimes on both sides of the very obvious path. At times I could see four or five blazes in my line of sight. The blazes were on both sides of the trees and mostly on live trees. Some of the saplings that were blazed on both sides were basically girdled as they had almost no bark left between the two blazes. Many trees were "bleeding" or "crying" where they had been cut. As we went further up they seemed to be slightly less frequent. I wondered if the perp was getting tired. What I also noticed was that there were many more blazes on the backsides of the trees as if to assist a person who wanted to get down or out. This just supports my theory that this person was a scared little boy that wanted to make sure he got back out of the woods. I would say there was nearly twice as many blazes going downhill as uphill. They exist all the way out to Couch but not with the frequency they had at the beginning. Dudenchikn I think not, ChickenDude sounds more likely. Charlene had stated to me that when I told her about the damage and showed her the pictures she didn't think it was right but also didn't think it would effect her hike. After being in there she said that they were such an eyesore for much of the hike that she was more disappointed then she thought she would be. It was a big deal but also the only real negative on this day. We decided to go up Panther first and have a break on the open rocks. The day was still and mostly cloudy but the clouds were high enough to allow for great views. Looking at Couch and Sant we felt good about climbing both but wouldn't decide until we came back from Couch. We hadn't seen anyone since leaving the road and wouldn't see anyone until almost on Couch. At that point we ran into a two groups of three coming back. They had gone there first while we were on Panther. It was about noon when we reached Couch. We had our lunch there under the summit sign. As a note, I didn't see the handmade, driftwood looking, Couch sign that had been at Times Square the last few times I had been there (this was the third time there this year!). On the way back we saw the solo hiker we had seen at the beginning. We again restrained Dali and this time she seemed much less nervous. She did tell us she had walked a mile past the herd path on the Bradley Pond trail before realizing her mistake. Nothing like a couple extra miles tacked on to the Santanonis. When we got back to Times Square there was a couple of groups chatting there. We knew we were going for Santanoni so just kept moving at that point. Charlene was pleasantly surprised at how quick we had gotten back to TS from Couch. She also had really enjoyed the views over the Cold River area and Sewards and Sawtooths from the route to Couch. We passed one of the groups of three just before the Santanoni summit but had the summit to ourselves when we got there. Saw about a dozen people out but managed to have each summit to ourselves. The group of three we had passed was one adult and two boys. These were the boys first high peaks. They had gone to Couch first! Welcome to the high peaks boys. On the way back we caught a group at TS that had just done Panther. We walked part of the way down with them but left them at Panther Brook as they pumped water. We didn't see anyone else for the walk out except a Blue Heron at the wet area along the road. Charlene only saw it up in the air but I had seen it before it flew up. About a half mile from the trailhead a Santanoni Club member came down the road in his truck. He stopped and offered us two cold beers he had in the truck! I thanked him but told him we had a couple waiting for us in our car already. Very kind offer though. The whole walk took about 10.5 hours at a moderate (Charlene) pace. Both Charlene and Dali were pretty tired and both dozed on the ride home. Fantastic day with the exception of the illegal blazes. Charlene really enjoyed these peaks and was pretty pleased with herself for hiking all three in a day.

[1ADAM12]

great reoprt. I have to go back and get SAnt. next summer as I was unable to get all threww in a day :( I really enjoy this range and I am sure next summer the blazes will be just as visible as they are now :(

[Mavs00]

Many trees were "bleeding" or "crying" where they had been cut.

Funny, I kinda felt the same way hearing about it. :rolleyes:

Another thing, your account is very detailed and something occurred to me. I got the distinct impression from the initial {self} reported online accounts that Mr. Bunyan provided, that the cutting was done on the way out {as they were leaving}. That makes sense since you also report the cuts are more prevalent on the "headed down" side.

You also indicate that down low (closer to the herd path turn off), the marks are closer together and every couple feet. That, in my mind, indicates more of a venting of frustration and an overall gesture to the place in general as a show of appreciation for how he enjoyed his time there that it does trail clearing/maintenance operation. Think about it, the further you get out, the more insecure you'd feel {thus more likely to feel the need to blaze}, not the closer you get to marked trail. Course, thats speculation on my part.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, I gotta stop, I'm getting pissed again :banghead:

[Fitz]

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, I gotta stop, I'm getting pissed again :banghead:

You and me both, my friend, you and me both.

[elhefe007a]

I felt the same way when I saw the tree's "crying" or "bleeding". Unreal.

I also noticed many more on the way down than on the way up, those guys are rediculous. Man, that fires me up. Idiots. I hope they get absolutely hit hard by the DEC.


On a non-blazing note, now that I've had a couple weeks to reflect on my trip to that range, I thought it was amazing. Santanoni has one of the top 5 views I've seen, in my opinion.

[Rik]

Funny, I kinda felt the same way hearing about it. :rolleyes:

Another thing, your account is very detailed and something occurred to me. I got the distinct impression from the initial {self} reported online accounts that Mr. Bunyan provided, that the cutting was done on the way out {as they were leaving}. That makes sense since you also report the cuts are more prevalent on the "headed down" side.

You also indicate that down low (closer to the herd path turn off), the marks are closer together and every couple feet. That, in my mind, indicates more of a venting of frustration and an overall gesture to the place in general as a show of appreciation for how he enjoyed his time there that it does trail clearing/maintenance operation. Think about it, the further you get out, the more insecure you'd feel {thus more likely to feel the need to blaze}, not the closer you get to marked trail. Course, thats speculation on my part.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, I gotta stop, I'm getting pissed again :banghead:

You make some good points but I'll clarify my speculation (and I know it is just that).

My impression was that it was done somewhat methodically. It didn't appear to be out of frustration to me. I didn't see a lot that was just cut. It looked marked. It also seemed more heavily blazed in areas that "could" be seen as confusing. Once you enter the herd path and cross over the water and into the woods the path splinters a bit, this happens several times on the way to Panther brook. It happens at those little camp spots along the path and at some of the rocky spots along the cliffs. Same thing on the path to Couch. Near the swamp and where there was blowdown. Like they were leaving themselves marks for the way back.
I haven't re-read their trip reports but I would guess that they justified it to themselves by telling themselves they were helping others as well as the helping themselves. So on the way down they may have "completed" the job the started on the way up. Maybe even marking the "up side" on the way down. I remember also that they had planned to return and "get" Santanoni and Panther so maybe they were just helping themselves for next time.
I think it more likely that they brought the machete as a "tool" out of some fear of the woods than as a means to relieve their frustrations. Again, it didn't seem hacked as much as marked. To me that would also leave them more likely to report it the way they did. I think they may have convinced themselves that they were doing everyone a favor but I very much doubt that was their original intent. It would also account for their defensive response.
Sometimes the "scariest" part is when you first leave the trail. That might have been when they were most "worried" about getting back to it. I think a lot of people feel this the first few times they step off the marked trail.

[Mavs00]

Rik,

You were there, I'll defer to your wisdom, I withdraw my speculation counsellor :D.

Uncalled for in any event. Great job and tell Charlene "way to go :tup: " from us. Ummmm, btw dude, what's with the turning down the beer from the mystery machine on the way out???? I wish I had a "thumbs down" icon for that one.

[Eric]

Great detailed report Rik. Unfortunate again to have to hear about the damage on the trail though. Suppose we'll be hearing about it for some time to come. Will be nice to hear a follow up soon as to what is going on with that whole situation.
Glad to hear Charlene had a great trip and congrats to her.
I get nervous too when I hike with Dali, she's pretty intimidating, what she weigh 40 pounds. :)
I also agree with Tim, whats up with the whole beer thing. Where is that thumbs down.

[AlpineSummit]

Way to go Rik, nice.
Not too often does one hear about it being quick to get back to TS after climbing Couchee! Hats off to Charlene for that one.....

That's a good walk, nice day for you guys there.

Happy Trails

[Rik]

I also agree with Tim, whats up with the whole beer thing. Where is that thumbs down.

Did I not mention that we had a cooler with beers and chips waiting in the car?
It was a nice gesture and my application to the Santanoni Club is in the mail.

[Mavs00]

Did I not mention that we had a cooler with beers and chips waiting in the car?

Nice try.......... But here is the APPROPRIETE THOUGHT THAT SHOULD ENTER THE MIND in that situation: "Gee Charleen, guess we better finish these beers be-4 we get to the car since there won't be any room in the cooloer for them" :D

we'll give you that you were tired and not in your right mind.