imarchant
02-18-2007, 10:20 PM
Saturday started as a bright, sunny day. I got a late start, after dropping off my son at his job. I enjoyed the views of the Catskills, across the Hudson as I drove up Rt. 9G. I snapped a picture as I crossed the Rip Van Winkle Bridge.
http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/16/16/5/45/64/2226545640010942124BzsjCk_th.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2226545640010942124BzsjCk)
I arrived at the Peck Rd. trailhead and prepared to start my hike. Since there was one other car in the lot and they had already started out I opted for using my MSRs without the tails. As part of my preparation I walk of trail and found the snow was well above my knees. Just as I was preparing to leave a car pulled up. I spoke briefly with the young man. I found out that he was waiting for 2 of his friends. They were out for a 2 night stay. I warned him to be prepared for unbroken trails between the summit of Windham and the Batavia Kill lean-to.
I began my hiking at 10:20 AM. My car thermometer read 20 degrees. The sun was shining brightly and the sky was a perfect blue. The trail was broken, but still soft, my snowshoes were a little smaller than the party ahead of me and I figured I weighed more since I was sinking in a bit more. I kept a steady, moderate pace. In about 15 minutes I started to sweat a little so I removed my hat and gloves and unzipped my jacket. I continued this way until the trail junction of the Elm Ridge & Escarpment trails
Since no one else from Rt. 23 had yet joined the group of three in breaking trail I added the 8" tails to my MSRs. I also remove my jacket. My top half was now just in my long-sleeved polypro shirt. It was a little cool so I moved on quickly. I was soon comfortable. I just kept on moving at a moderate pace. The decision to add the tails was the right one, and it was considerably easier walking in the already broken trail.
http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/58/158/5/4/33/2799504330010942124gMGLrd_th.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2799504330010942124gMGLrd)
I soon came to a dark pine forest, it looked a bit spooky. The camera did not do it justice. http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/59/459/3/82/76/2847382760010942124MsnpnX_th.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2847382760010942124MsnpnX)
About a half mile from the summit the trail gets steeper for a short section. Just as I was 3/4 of the way up the steep section I passed the group of three returning from the summit. I thanked them for breaking trail. The stretch from here to the summit was more gradual but the side hilling was a bit annoying. Eventually I reached a nice view point towards the South. I stopped and enjoyed the views.http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/16/16/8/83/28/2292883280010942124YlWfZN_th.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2292883280010942124YlWfZN) I was expecting to need to put my jacket on, but the sun was so warm and there was no wind, so I just sat and enjoyed the views and enjoyed a snack and some hot cocoa. I left my pack at the view point and continued to the summit, a few hundred feet further and then on to another view to the East several hundred feet further. There were also a few views to the north along the way. I was a little disappointed that the views were hazy, considering the perfectly blue, cloudless sky. It had taken my about 2-1/2 hrs to reach the viewpoint. I spent another 1/2 hr with the breaks and bagging the actual summit. I turned back at the 3 from my start time.
After 15 minutes of my descent I crossed path with a solo hiker. We spoke for a minute of so. He had come up from Rt. 23. breaking trail up to the Elm Ridge trail Junction. I was making good time on the way down. About half way down crossed paths with the group that was gathering at the trailhead as I left. They were traveling slowly with their full packs. I kept moving, before long I was back at the trail junction. Just past the trail junction I past an older couple out enjoying the woods. I saw some small ice formations at what I think is the spring marked on the map. http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/59/559/9/11/59/2340911590010942124lYqRgp_th.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2340911590010942124lYqRgp) As I neared the trail head I noticed some ski tracks in the snow. Before long I was back at the trailhead. It had taken me less than 1-1/2 hrs. for the descent. There were two men just leaving, they must have been the skiers. They asked my where I had just been, so I told them I was at the summit. They seem quite amazed that I had been up and back in less than 5 hrs. I was just happy to have completed another winter peak on a gorgeous day.:)
http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/16/16/5/45/64/2226545640010942124BzsjCk_th.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2226545640010942124BzsjCk)
I arrived at the Peck Rd. trailhead and prepared to start my hike. Since there was one other car in the lot and they had already started out I opted for using my MSRs without the tails. As part of my preparation I walk of trail and found the snow was well above my knees. Just as I was preparing to leave a car pulled up. I spoke briefly with the young man. I found out that he was waiting for 2 of his friends. They were out for a 2 night stay. I warned him to be prepared for unbroken trails between the summit of Windham and the Batavia Kill lean-to.
I began my hiking at 10:20 AM. My car thermometer read 20 degrees. The sun was shining brightly and the sky was a perfect blue. The trail was broken, but still soft, my snowshoes were a little smaller than the party ahead of me and I figured I weighed more since I was sinking in a bit more. I kept a steady, moderate pace. In about 15 minutes I started to sweat a little so I removed my hat and gloves and unzipped my jacket. I continued this way until the trail junction of the Elm Ridge & Escarpment trails
Since no one else from Rt. 23 had yet joined the group of three in breaking trail I added the 8" tails to my MSRs. I also remove my jacket. My top half was now just in my long-sleeved polypro shirt. It was a little cool so I moved on quickly. I was soon comfortable. I just kept on moving at a moderate pace. The decision to add the tails was the right one, and it was considerably easier walking in the already broken trail.
http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/58/158/5/4/33/2799504330010942124gMGLrd_th.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2799504330010942124gMGLrd)
I soon came to a dark pine forest, it looked a bit spooky. The camera did not do it justice. http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/59/459/3/82/76/2847382760010942124MsnpnX_th.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2847382760010942124MsnpnX)
About a half mile from the summit the trail gets steeper for a short section. Just as I was 3/4 of the way up the steep section I passed the group of three returning from the summit. I thanked them for breaking trail. The stretch from here to the summit was more gradual but the side hilling was a bit annoying. Eventually I reached a nice view point towards the South. I stopped and enjoyed the views.http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/16/16/8/83/28/2292883280010942124YlWfZN_th.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2292883280010942124YlWfZN) I was expecting to need to put my jacket on, but the sun was so warm and there was no wind, so I just sat and enjoyed the views and enjoyed a snack and some hot cocoa. I left my pack at the view point and continued to the summit, a few hundred feet further and then on to another view to the East several hundred feet further. There were also a few views to the north along the way. I was a little disappointed that the views were hazy, considering the perfectly blue, cloudless sky. It had taken my about 2-1/2 hrs to reach the viewpoint. I spent another 1/2 hr with the breaks and bagging the actual summit. I turned back at the 3 from my start time.
After 15 minutes of my descent I crossed path with a solo hiker. We spoke for a minute of so. He had come up from Rt. 23. breaking trail up to the Elm Ridge trail Junction. I was making good time on the way down. About half way down crossed paths with the group that was gathering at the trailhead as I left. They were traveling slowly with their full packs. I kept moving, before long I was back at the trail junction. Just past the trail junction I past an older couple out enjoying the woods. I saw some small ice formations at what I think is the spring marked on the map. http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/59/559/9/11/59/2340911590010942124lYqRgp_th.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2340911590010942124lYqRgp) As I neared the trail head I noticed some ski tracks in the snow. Before long I was back at the trailhead. It had taken me less than 1-1/2 hrs. for the descent. There were two men just leaving, they must have been the skiers. They asked my where I had just been, so I told them I was at the summit. They seem quite amazed that I had been up and back in less than 5 hrs. I was just happy to have completed another winter peak on a gorgeous day.:)