Windham (not so) High Peak

[TFR]

WHP is only 3520', so calling it a High Peak is a stretch, and it's one of the easiest hikes of the Catskill 35. But as a wise man once said, "Every mountain can kick your a$$". Well, this was not quite a whuppin', but it was a little interesting getting started. The rains had fallen the previous night, and the bridge over the little stream was still there, but just after the bridge, water was flowing over the trail. A look upstream shows a fairly large beaver dam had been constructed. We bushwhacked around not 1, not 2, but 3 places where water covered the trail, not always staying dry.

After that, it was the typical WHP hike. There have been a few re-routes, some of which seem pointless, but there they were. This being a Club hike, we stayed on trail. The spooky forest is still there, but a little spring storm damage is evident. What concerns me most about the spooky forest is that there are no saplings. It seems destined to fail when the large trees start dying off. Oh well, such is the futility of man tinkering with nature.

The day turned out to be mostly dry and sunny, with a mild breeze. There were wet leaves on the trail, but they were not a big factor. The other small stream crossings were easy to negotiate. The summit views of the Blackhead range were great. The views towards the Hudson Valley were pretty good too, but we could not see beyond NY to the '5 state view'. The foliage was great in every direction! :D

Overall, a very nice walk in the woods! :D

[TFR]

(Cross-posted on VFTT.)

Nice report Tom. (You sure didn't waste any time writing it!)

Soooo, ....... no pics?Cross answered on VFTT too! :D

[mountainmeijin]

Sounds like a good time. I'm really sorry I had to back out. I still need Windham for my W35, though, so I'll have to get back up there eventually. I bet the spooky forest is nice after a wet snowfall.

[Mark Schaefer]

Nice report. Windham High Peak is an interesting name for the mountain since it is not even the high point of the Town of Windham. The three summits of the Blackhead Range are also in the town. I last hiked the approach from Route 23 in 2005, and I also noted the beaver activity at that time. Perhaps another reroute is needed.

I still need Windham for my W35, though, so I'll have to get back up there eventually. I bet the spooky forest is nice after a wet snowfall. Dr. Kudish notes that spooky forest was planted in 1934-1937. The DEC planted the Norway spruce and balsam fir. The native fir did not survive while the non native spruce thrived. Norway spruce seem to create the darkest of forest canopies. One can almost imagine that trolls came with the spruce. As I hike through I always hear the "On October 31st" melody of Edvard Grieg's "Hall of the Mountain King" (http://www.kendormusic.com/str2004/9841.htm), inspired by the Peer Gynt legend (http://library.thinkquest.org/12924/nr3.htm) of Henrik Ibsen. So Peter, although it is not winter WHP would also make a good Halloween hike, but like Peer watch out for those trolls. No doubt cannon balls will ward them off.

[Rockledge]

Good report.

I have not done WHP yet. Looking forward to it. I've made a decision to aggressively pursue the 35 over the next couple of years.

I was on the Kaaterskill High Peak yesterday. Water, water everywhere...