No Bald Eagles, Just 100 lbs of camera

[BrokenPole]

Mud Hook and Rocky Summit apparently feel that I am the official narrator-in-residence on hike that I join them on and are eagerly awaiting the tale of our 12 mile (according to MudHook's GPS that he regularly bangs against a tree) Blackhead out to Colgate Lake Sunday trip.

A beautiful, but breezy and at times bitterly cold day. Made excellent time starting with Thomas Cole and finishing Blackhead by 1:30. Then, started off the Escarpment Trail toward Dutcher Knotch. Great views looking down into the valley toward Colgate lake. None of the 5 of us on this trip had followed the Escarpment Trail beyond Blackhead in that direction. Certainly the road less traveled. Anyway, we came down into Dutcher Knotch from a very steep descent consisting of leaves, very few rocks and a bit of ice to make it interesting (isn't that called "slabbing") and were all surprised to discover 4 more miles until the car. What a long 4 miles. Flat, but wet. An interesting discovery of a beaver's den, lots of chewed trees.

Things were getting dark, my friend Barbie Hiker (Mudhook thinks her trailname should be different as she is a very strong hiker) and I went ahead of the men who were studiously contemplating a bridge, commenting on it's construction. We made it out to see a lovely sunset.

The 100 lbs of camera made it out safe and sound, somehow the memory card is full, and the batteries are dead. There is always next weekend.

[mudhook]

[QUOTE=BrokenPole;30298]Mud Hook and Rocky Summit apparently feel that I am the official narrator-in-residence

Ah, the price of entertainment.:)

I will add this hike is one of the most diverse I have found in the Cats: Open hardwoods, Boreal spruce and fir, many views, steeps ,ledges, scrambles, long,flat roads, rocky rooty wet trails, beaver meadows, old farm land, the newest DEC bridges south of the ADK's, streams, bogs, a couple of marshes and of course a lake and a sunset at the end. Add the good company and it was a short 12 miles.
For those of you who are" birders", the trail to the notch (knotch?):) from Colgate Lake should be a bonanza in the spring. Also lots of opportunity to observe beavers.The bears have broken off the mountain ash along the trail in their search for the orange berries, making for interesting scat. The dominant coyote along the escarpment has apparently been eating alot of rabbits.

[Mark Schaefer]

Nice report. I often hike the Colgate Lake trail to climb Arizona and Blackhead or Stoppel Point. It is the path less travelled. The 4 miles does seem a little long, especially on the way out. A shortcut is possible from the Blackhead/Arizona col back to the trail near the slightly older bridge that tends to have standing water on the bridge surface. There are several old logging roads on the east side of the stream which can be used part of the way. The may flies and gnats are thick along that stream in the spring. Bushwhacks off of Stoppel and West Stoppel are also easy. I have also heard reports of bushwhacking directly up to the Blackhead Range summits from the trail.

The beaver meadow and other meadow closer to the notch are nice. There is also a small side-by-side waterfall near an old mill site south of the trail near the upper meadow. Late July and fall foliage are my favorite seasons for this trail. In late July there are blueberries and on Arizona and Blackhead, and raspberries on Arizona and in the meadow near the notch. I once saw two black bears feeding on blueberries and grasses on Arizona. They appeared to be 2 year siblings recently kicked out of the coup by mama. There are lots of birds in the area. Pheasants often hang out at Colgate Lake and in the meadow at the trailhead. Hawks, kestrels, and owls are also in the area.

[rockysummit]

Hey Brokenpole, excellent report. Glad you're the new spokesperson! Was a great trip and a very interesting area I plan to visit a lot more. Also as Jim said, excellent company.

[Jay H]

Brokenpole: If I was you, I'd request a written contract and request promotional fees! :)

jay