Newbie Question Going Up Slide

[PnP_LB]

Hello All,
We are planning on hiking up Slide Mountain this weekend and we have a few questions.
--From what we have read the approach from the west is easiest. Is this true?
--We know it has been warm this week, can we still expect snow on the the mountain? Will we need snowshoes or will good waterproof boots work?
--How hard/easy will it be to cross that river (West Neversink??) at the beginning of the trail? I know that will depend on the rain this week but any thoughts....
--Are there any other stream crossings?
--If we get to Slide early enough and try to venture to Cornell what can we expect on those ledges, will they be snow and ice covered, how bad are they?
--Any places/views on that trail that we should look out for? (In both good and bad ways)

Thanks in advance for any suggestions/ assistance you can provide.

[TFR]

Welcome!

The western approach is the easiest, but if you have time, come back down the Curtiss-Ormsbee Trail for variety.

Keep monitoring this board and VFTT for Catskill snow reports.

I would expect the river to be 'interesting'! :D People have been killed there, do not underestimate it! That is the only stream crossing worth noting.

Cornell: You never know. The ledges could be tough. Bring appropriate gear unless you want to risk injury or have to turn back. Both have happened numerous times.

This is a problematic time of year for hiking. Good luck, and let us know how it works out!

[Jay H]

The PE trail between the BR trail to Slide and the CO trail is typically wet with some small streams to cross. I would expect large puddles there. I presume you have the NYNJTC maps so you can see the trails I am mentioning.

There is probably a good amount of slushy snow just off the shoulder of Slide (between Slide and Cornell). That seems to be an area that accumulates a lot of snowfall so there is more of it to melt.

If you do go up/down the Curtis Ormsbee trail, let me know how it is..I'm the trail maintainer for the lower part...

Jay

[Long Island Bill]

I was on Mount Sherill (600' lower than Slide) on Sunday and there was still 18" to 24" of compacted, wet snow. However, it was melting wicked fast and would expect the last few days have melted more. Of course, all the runoff will mean the streams will be high and require caution.

[mountainmeijin]

I expect it's running high, but shouldn't be too hard to ford, even if you get a little moist. With these past few warm days, I expect most of the snow to be gone. Probably won't need snowshoes, but I'd bring crampons for Cornell. The western approach to Slide doesn't really have anything in the way of scrambles, unless you take the Curtis-Ormsbee trail up.

[mudhook]

There is a TR and post on VFTT about snow shoes and lack of on Slide last Sunday.

[PnP_LB]

Hello Everyone,

Thanks for the info. As always our largest concern is the river crossing, but we will hope for the best and use the greatest river crossing device available, our common sense. They say there will be rain this weekend. If we go it will rain, it we do not go it will not. What can we do. We will see what happens.


Thanks again and will let you know how we make out....