West Stop

[Rik]

Today was a nice day to spend some time in the woods without working too hard so Charlene, Dali, and I went to the Catskills and climbed West Stoppel. We parked at the trailhead with the trail from Colgate Lake to Dutcher Notch. This trail skirts the private area around Capra Lake. We walked the trail around to the other side of the lake. When we started we saw a bow hunter coming out. He was the only person we would see until we returned to the car. The trail is part trail and mostly old road. It has some interesting twists and turns. We could see the Blackhead range all day through the trees as well as our destination. There were a few wet spots but easily navigated. On the far side of the lake we crossed an older ice covered bridge at a strange intersection of woods roads, trail, and stream. There was a frozen pair of socks there that we packed out. At a second, very new, bridge further on we noted that there was "06" carved into the post on the bridge. Very new. The meadow that shows as a pond on older maps was also an interesting spot. Once the trail started heading away from where we wanted to go we walked into the woods and up to the relatively long flat summit. We gained the top near on the east side and walked across it until we were sure we had gone as high as we could go. Once we started to climb we ran into a coating of snow. The woods were open the entire way and we found many old roads along the way. We could always see the Blackhead range and from the top we could see Kaaterskill/RT and part of the Devils Path peaks. All of the views were through the open woods. We never found any open views. From the top we walked a pretty straight line back to the car. The woods were open and we saw whitetail deer running away from us as we approached from a good distance. We could also see Capra lake through the trees. Crossing the stream between the two lakes required using a downed tree which we conveniently walked up to. Easy walk. Nice woods.

[Jay H]

The meadow that shows as a pond on older maps was also an interesting spot

Did you see the old abandoned car that is around there. There is also a hunting stand that I saw around there when I did the loop as you described...

Jay

[Rik]

Did you see the old abandoned car that is around there. There is also a hunting stand that I saw around there when I did the loop as you described...

Jay

Did see a hunting stand, not sure if that is where the bow hunter was coming from. Missed the car somehow? Is it obvious?

[Jay H]

I think so, but it was a dark blue or green color, might of been covered under leaves. I believe it was near the hunting stand and by the pond that isn't really a pond, but a marsh.

This was last year right before my Escarpment trail charity hike for BTS that I did West Stoppel...

Jay

[Peakbagr]

Rik,

We have a social obligation on Saturday evening, which means that if I want to get out on Saturday, its got to be a short drive and short hike.
I've been saving Stoppel and W Stoppel for such an occasion and your post was helpful.
It appears you hiked around Lake Capra, to the little swamp and then bushwhacked straight up West Stoppel? You also headed straight back to the car from the summit.

Feasible to reverse the trip and go from the parking lot to West Stoppel summit?
Also thought about b'whacking Stoppel Point from the swamp, over the ridge to West Stoppel, and then down.

The new maps show 3 parking areas along the road on the way to Lake Capra. Does it matter which you park in and how easy is it to cross the stream connecting Colgate and Capra lakes?

Thanks,

[Rik]

Alan,
The route we used only took 3 hours and we were just strolling most of the time. The parking lot at the edge of the field and start of the marked trail is probably the best spot to park regardless of route. To do a straight up and back would be pretty simple. It's only about 1.25 miles from that parking spot to the West Stoppel summit. The stream looks like it would be easily rock hopped in low water. We found a sturdy log to cross. It wouldn't take long to walk the bank until you come to the obvious log. There is a small wet, mossy, area between the road and the stream that is easily skirted to the east. If you go this way then most of the time you will see Lake Capra through the trees on your left. Thomas Cole will show through the trees directly behind you and if you come down this way make a nice point to walk towards back to the car.

[Jay H]

Alan, there is a really nice open field and a great view towards the Escarpment trail from the parking lot where I parked and where I think Rik parked. The stream between Capra and Colgate is not far from there and that is where I crossed on the way back. I did not know how crossable it was so I guess I was winging it on the way back. It was also in June and I figured, if I have to swim, I will! If you cross it in the beginning, you'll have done probably the hardest part of the loop in the beginning....

Although, from what I gather and from my hikes this weekend, water is flowing pretty good now. The rondout was moving quite a bit this past weekend by Sundown.

Jay

[TFR]

The route we used only took 3 hours and we were just strolling most of the time.Be careful with some of these 'strollers'! Jay 'strolled' away from us a few times last weekend. He disappeared before I knew what had happened! :eek:

Not that they didn't wait for the caboose to catch up though! :D

[Mark Schaefer]

Nice TR. I expect the car that Jay found may date from the late 1970s when the area was the NYC Boys Club's "Camp Harriman". Some history follows.

There was a sizeable community known as "Spruce Woods", settled in 1806 at the head of the East Kill Valley, east of the marshy area. The Cairo - East Kill Turnpike through Dutcher Notch was completed in 1836, per The Catskill Forest, A History, Dr. Kudish, page 132. There were a number of farms (currently meadows). There were also several sawmills built as early as 1856 and operated as late as 1902, per Kudish, pages 133, 137, 165; and Pioneer Days in the Catskill High Peaks, by Leah Showers Wiltse, page 101. One of these was near the attractive double waterfall, a short distance south off the trail, mentioned in the 3rd edition of the ADK guide, page 50. Much of the land was later purchased by Robert Colgate (of the Colgate Palmolive Company). His estate was at Colgate Lake, but he also owned the "Spruce Woods" area east of Lake Capra. The marshy area was dammed and known as the "upper lake" at the time. The state acquired Colgate Lake in 1975. At the same time the "Spruce Woods" area was sold to the NYC Boys Club, and it was operated as Camp Harriman until 1979 when the state acquired it. The buildings at each area were torn down after the state acquisition. There are some old photos of the area here (http://www.townofjewett.com/pictures.htm#loucks).

The road through the Lake Capra property was still drivable up to Dutcher Notch into the late 1970s. During that time I hiked up the Dutcher Notch trail from the east. When I got to the top of the notch I was surprised to find that the Escarpment Trail Run (http://escarpmenttrail.com/) was in progress. There was a jeep at the notch and several guys distributing water to the runners as they passed the notch. They had driven up from Colgate Lake via Lake Capra. I think it was 1978 which would have been the second year of the trail run.

[Jay H]

The trail to Dutcher's Notch is a Catskills designated bike trail because it's much of a road. I've hiked to Dutcher's Notch with iMarchant from Winter Park when I had the Escarpment Trail hike for TBS. It was truly an old road that was very washed out in places due to erosion. Wouldn't want to drive it today!

Cool pictures Mark, I wish we got that amount of snow these days!

Jay