Kaaterskill High Peak

[Jay H]

OK, since I didn't actually finish on new year's day. Heck, I'm trying to get Winter#666 and so far, from David White, they're up to #626, so I thought I'd wait... ;)

Anyway, I'm thinking of the weekend of Jan 14th/15th that I would plan on doing KHP to finish my winter peaks after bagging the other 8 I had to do this past week.

Anybody want to join me? Carol and I have thought about it already, she needs Blackhead and Fred may be available on sunday so thinking of doing it on sunday perhaps... 1/15/06

The more the merrier I guess!

Jay

[ajtiv]

I will see if Ic an get away it would be three weekends in a row not easily negotiated.
I will keep you posted
If I come up it would be just for the day
Al

[daxs]

I am in. BTW, are there any brook crossings I need to be concerned about? My boots are still damp....

[Jay H]

That is also MLK weekend, although I do not get off for MLK day, I do have that friday off.

I'll put down a date soon enough, the reason I was thinking of sunday was more so fred is free, as he is supposed to be in CT that day I think...

Jay

[daxs]

I have off Monday but do not have off Friday. But if we are not hiking Friday its not a problem

[MattC]

I'm in whatever day it is.

Matt

[cantdog]

I'm interested and I could be available Saturday, Sunday and Monday as long as Monday is not a very long day. However, I am planning on Windham & Blackhead two weekends later.

Two questions:

Does anyone already have an agenda for Saturday and Monday that does not include Windham or Blackhead? If not, I'll lobby for Slide, Panther, Balsam or two of them.

Would anyone be interested in splitting a heated/place to stay with hot showers on Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday nights? I'm not very fond of unnecessary winter camping.

[Jay H]

Well guess, what, I also found out I need to do Windham HP! Must have missed the second page of my tally sheet. I might have done WHP in winter but might not have recorded it.. In any case, we can do Windham and blackhead in one day as they are short hikes.

Julie, if you are available on Friday, I am off that day and can do anything you want. I know Carol and Matt want to do Eagle which is right by Balsam and very commonly joined together, so perhaps if you want, we can do Slide on Friday, it's a nice hike and I can show you my trail that I maintain (The Curtis Ormsbee trail, the nicer way to slide :) ) going to Panther in the same day would be more of a haul or a real early start, but we can discuss that in due time..

In fact, you should be able to do Eagle on monday as that is a short hike. I don't know when matt and carol are planning a Return to Eagle but I know they want to.

Jay

[Tmax]

Hey Jay,

Where are we celebrating after the hike? :drink:

[cantdog]

Well guess, what, I also found out I need to do Windham HP! Must have missed the second page of my tally sheet. I might have done WHP in winter but might not have recorded it.. In any case, we can do Windham and blackhead in one day as they are short hikes.

Julie, if you are available on Friday, I am off that day and can do anything you want. I know Carol and Matt want to do Eagle which is right by Balsam and very commonly joined together, so perhaps if you want, we can do Slide on Friday, it's a nice hike and I can show you my trail that I maintain (The Curtis Ormsbee trail, the nicer way to slide :) ) going to Panther in the same day would be more of a haul or a real early start, but we can discuss that in due time..

In fact, you should be able to do Eagle on monday as that is a short hike. I don't know when matt and carol are planning a Return to Eagle but I know they want to.

Jay

Sorry, but my third day of the weekend is definitely Monday and not Friday. Anyway, I am still eager to know what others are doing.

[Jay H]

Julie, OK, sorry, I thought you mentioned you were free on Friday. I'm not off on Monday so I'll be only able to hike on Friday thru sunday. Perhaps, email carol (daxs) to see if she is up for Eagle from McKenley hollow on Monday.

Terri, perhaps we can celebrate at "The Last Stand" in Tannersville. It's not far from KHP and we went there when we did the Escarpment Trail hike. :drink:

Jay

[daxs]

Of course I want Eagle. Just not via the Seger trail that this point. I am up for WHP and Blackhead on Sat and KHP on Sunday. If anyone wants to hike on Monday I still need Balsam and Panther for my " regular" 3500 so thats a consideration. If I do Balsam I may as well tag Eagle. But I would be up for anyhike except S-W-C, Balsam Lake or Graham.

[cantdog]

Of course I want Eagle. Just not via the Seger trail that this point. I am up for WHP and Blackhead on Sat and KHP on Sunday. If anyone wants to hike on Monday I still need Balsam and Panther for my " regular" 3500 so thats a consideration. If I do Balsam I may as well tag Eagle. But I would be up for anyhike except S-W-C, Balsam Lake or Graham.

I'm looking at the map and it appears as though Balsam and Panther are two separate hikes. Is that right? How long a day would they make together? I'm just trying to estimate how late on Monday I would be leaving for home.

So, Kaaterskill on Sunday and Windham Saturday?
Is it possible and reasonable to add Black Dome and Thomas Cole to Saturday?

Someone suggested the Cobblestone Motel so I called looking for vacancy, but I got their machine.
Has anyone stayed there before?
Is anyone interested in staying there next weekend?
Can anyone recommend alternate lodging in case they call me back and it's a no-go?

[imarchant]

I'm looking at the map and it appears as though Balsam and Panther are two separate hikes. Is that right? How long a day would they make together? I'm just trying to estimate how late on Monday I would be leaving for home.


They are separate hikes, but they can be done in one day. I did them both in March at the end of last winter (2005). They are each about five miles. I did Panther from the hairpin turn on Rt 47. I did Balsam from Rider Hollow as a loop.

[Jay H]

Julie, there is a hotel in Palenville that Fred (fritz on VfTT and Jade) stayed at when we did the Escarpment trail, that would be convienient for the locations like KHP, Windham, etc. I'm pretty sure the name is Red Ranch Motel and it is on Rt 32 south in palenville. I think it is reasonably inexpensive and is in a good location.

http://www.travelhero.com/prophome.cfm/id/8512/parkname/CATSKILLS/typeid/7/index.html

Anyway, if you get a room with 2 double beds, I'm sure we can get 2 others to split. I will only need a room for saturday night as I have to leave on sunday.

As far as saturday, it is most convienient to add Windham to Blackhead, it would also work to add Thomas Cole to Blackhead but if you do that, you might want to do a car spot and do Blackhead from Big Hollow Road and then west to Thomas Cole and to Barnum road. Adding Windham to this is ambitious, but you could do either one.

My proposal as of now stands as:

Saturday: option 1: Windham high peak & Blackhead either as a traverse or two out and backs.

option 2: Blackhead Range traverse from Big Hollow to Barnum Rd doing Blackhead, Blackdome and Thomas Cole

Sunday: Kaaterskill High Peak

Monday: Eagle/Balsam or Panther...

Panther from the switchback that Ian mentions is shorter than from Fox Hollow but perhaps a little steeper in places. I know the trail from Fox Hollow is long but gradual. At a good pace, doing just eagle from McKenley is a pretty quick day assuming good snow conditions, as you'll find more people going to Balsam since it's a winter peak.

Jay

[cantdog]

Sadly, I just called and found out the Red Ranch is closed for the season. However, I'm still waiting for a callback from the Cobblestone.

Depending on what I find out from them, I'm ok with the suggested agenda as long as I don't hurt Tom Rankin's feelings by doing Blackhead too soon. :p

[Jay H]

Julie, well you could do Windham and then go to the viewpoint on Blackhead...:D Thereby skipping the summit. I think TFR can handle that.. or you don't have to tell him that you hiked it already ;)

Trail descriptions:

http://www.catskillguide.com/hike-1.htm

The trail to blackhead is fairly steep and crampons may be very useful, perhaps more so than snowshoes because as a winter peak, this trail from Big Hollow typically is packed out early and in some of the real steep sections, crampons is better anyway. Windham is fairly gradual and may be fresh snow, although there is a bit of illegal snowmobiling done from Peck Rd and/or Rt 23. They typically don't go as far as Windham HP though.

If you can't find an open place in Palenville, you surely can find one in Tannersville. However, you kind of want to avoid tannersville I think cause it's close to Hunter Mtn which is the most popular ski resort in the Catskills so hotels there may be pricier than say Palenville.

I know I crashed in a place there after the Devil's Path hike 2 years ago. I typically camp out somewhere so I'm sorry, I'm not much help for good places to hotel, but I'm looking for places near Palenville that's not a B&B ($$$).

I'll post what I find..

Jay

[daxs]

I guess as long as the price is reasonable I'd be willing to split a room. It looks like Windham and Blackhead on Sat, KHP on Sun. If I do Balsam on Monday, I'd like to tag Eagle as the same time since its from the same trailhead.

[daxs]

I've done some searching (price only) and most places around Tannersville are 100+ a night. Another consideration is its MLK weekend. Lodging may be booked becasue of skiiers taking advantage of the long weekend. We should prob make reservations if someone finds an open place. What would be everybodies max out of pocket for a room? I'd prob go fro $40/night. Julie, if we both are hiking I'd be willing to split a room on Sun also. Is our fall back the Batavia Leanto? Stealth camping at North-South?

[Jay H]

Seems like the cheapest one I've found is a Howard Johnson's which has a room available from 1/14 to 1/16

http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll/qscr=dspv/htid=20423/nojs=1/eapi=23708

I checked their availability and found a room for Saturday and Sunday night.

for $79 on Saturday and $89 on sunday and has 2 double beds.

It is on Rt 32 in Saugerties but isn't far from palenville and must be somewhere near the Red Ranch in which is probably just a bit south of there cause it is also on Rt 32 but has a Palenville address....

Jay

[doldreo]

Rik, I could use Big Indian so keep me posted to your plans.
Thanks Brian

[Jay H]

Sorry Rik, The I'm trying to see if Funkyfred can make the sunday. I did a bunch of the regular 3500 with him so thought it'd be nice. I'm not trying to snub ya! :)

Of course, then I found out two nights ago that I need Windham too (it happens to be on the second page of my tally sheet which I didn't look at) so it actually worked out to do WHP on the saturday with Blackhead...

Jay

[cantdog]

Seems like the cheapest one I've found is a Howard Johnson's which has a room available from 1/14 to 1/16

http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll/qscr=dspv/htid=20423/nojs=1/eapi=23708

I checked their availability and found a room for Saturday and Sunday night.

for $79 on Saturday and $89 on sunday and has 2 double beds.

It is on Rt 32 in Saugerties but isn't far from palenville and must be somewhere near the Red Ranch in which is probably just a bit south of there cause it is also on Rt 32 but has a Palenville address....

Jay


Wanna scoop it up?
I can give you cash at the trailhead.
How many people do we have in on it?
Depending on what time and where we are meeting Saturday morning, I could just leave in the night to get there then, if necessary.

[daxs]

I also vote for nabbing. Jay, have you heard anything else from Terri? Will she be driving each day or crashing with us?

[daxs]

Due to some obligations, I will not be hiking on Monday. I will be hiking on both Sat and Sun however.

[cantdog]

Who is committed to a hike on Manday and what will it be?

[Jay H]

As I have just came back from the ADKs, I will try to nab a room today. I will simply nab a room with 2 double beds and anybody else who wants to join shall crash on the floor.

I am only going to make reservations for Saturday night, if anybody wants to stay on a sunday night, then speak up ASAP or you can try to book the room when we get there.

I plan on coming up early saturday depending on the time we meet.

Julie, I think you were excluded from the current email barage. Can you check out my post on VfTT trips and events. I recaped what my though of Saturday will be. If anybody wants to do WHP with me, he/she is welcome, otherwise, I'll go tag that by myself and catch up with the rest of you somewhere on the blackhead range. Once we figure out who wants to do what, we can figure out where to spot the cars...

P.S. Al and I drove right by the HoJos on Rt 32, you can see that right from the Thruway, I'm going to try to book a room on the OTHER side of the road, lest we hear Walmart Trucks going up and down at 80mph all night long.

Jay

[Jay H]

I have reserved a room with 2 double beds, no smoking for saturday night.. $107.17 (with tax and fees). Cheaper than the comfort inn and closer than Kingston.

Who is planning on utilizing the room now?

I've also added Chip to the fray as he is joining us for the weekend... Is he on this board?

Jay

[cantdog]

I have reserved a room with 2 double beds, no smoking for saturday night.. $107.17 (with tax and fees). Cheaper than the comfort inn and closer than Kingston.

Who is planning on utilizing the room now?

I've also added Chip to the fray as he is joining us for the weekend... Is he on this board?

Jay

Just to recap before committing here:

What are we doing Saturday and when/where are we meeting?
I will need to leave home @4 hours prior to that and weather permitting.

What are we doing Sunday?
I'll skip the hiking on Monday of no one else is committed to doing something. That takes care of the Sunday night lodging issue.

Oh, and price per person?

I'll check back in a while...

[Jay H]

OK, I think we have a minimum of 4 to the room...

Julie
Carol
Jay
Chip

Anybody else can surely stay there, on the floor or so. I could perhaps sneak in an air mattress... Price per person would simply be $107.17 divided by the total# of people sleeping there...

I have plans to meet Chip at the end of Peck road at 8am, If you want to do this, 8am is the meeting time at the end of Peck Road. I'm pretty sure Terri doesn't check/read email til the evening, but if you want to do the blackhead range with her, you and Terri could pick a time and meet at Barnum Road (not far at all from Peck), which is why Terri was thinking of that.

Sunday, we are doing KHP from Platte Clove Road (CR16), this is a dayhike and pretty much a full day of hiking, this is also my last Winter 3500! :) with dinner afterwards or something to be cheerful about....

Jay

[cantdog]

So Saturday is Windham & Blackhead??

I don't have my map at the moment, but I'll look up Peck Road when I do.

[TFR]

Julie, well you could do Windham and then go to the viewpoint on Blackhead...:D Thereby skipping the summit. I think TFR can handle that.. or you don't have to tell him that you hiked it already ;)

Ha! I'm always watching and listening! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Don't worry about me Julie, do what you gotta do!

[cantdog]

I finally found Peck Road and Barnum Road after a little exotic researching. Peck is not labeled in the NY Atlas & Gazetteer or the Peter W Kick book map.

What is Terri's username?

Sadly, I found another problem:

http://www.weatherunderground.com/US/NY/Albany.html

I'll keep watching over the next few days.

[daxs]

I will be in for the room on Saturday night. Jay, what about an out and back for WHP and an out and back for Blackhead? I and we can meet up with whomever is doing the entire range somewhere along the range. I thought about going from WHP thru to Blackhead but I get the feeling that the trail does not get broken out over the winter and depending on conditions we could be breaking trail the entire way. Obviously, Blackhead is the peak I want to nail but I am up fro any otehr peaks too since I am accumulating toward my winter 3500 too.

[Jay H]

Julie, I never listen to the weather forecasters. I don't know how many times I've bagged plans only to sit outside on the porch admiring the blue sky while I'm reading a book!

I presume you will be coming from the Mass Pike and getting onto the NYS Thruway southbound at Albany? I'll give you directions once I get a good sense of the way myself. You will probably want to get off onto Rt 23C in Cairo/Windham and go west from there, but I'll have to get you detailed directions from there.. My maps aren't with me now...

Mapquest link (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=%5b1%2d24%5d%20Peck%20Rd&city=Maplecrest&state=NY&zipcode=12454&country=US&location=syCcjmfvvAm%2flCTsVdBeJUwkdfjoHKwVcoPBvHc y5y1Dm4ZLINoypjE7rr1UeBBblfzBdjn8RCQvRIH2uslk5BWpR mGh6UGUmGVscJocHdcr1Uue9mwGR9Gy%2b4eGGGv27Jm1zJ8U% 2fMw%3d)

CR56 I am pretty sure is also known as Big Hollow Road and is in the lovely little restored town of Maplecrest.

Carol, OK, I'll put you down along with Chip and I who will simply go tag WHP from Peck Road and back and then go to tag Blackhead and await Terri...

Jay

[Tmax]

Not having internet access during the day is killing me! I miss so much. I am doing the Blackhead Range from Barnum on Saturday and will meet the rest of you somewhere along the way. I'll be driving back and forth but I'd love to hang out with everyone for awhile afterwards. :bang:

[Jay H]

Regarding the weather. I just got a PM from Chip saying that he'll probably camp out. Now Julie, if you don't want to hike due to the weather, let me know ASAP, because I'm at the point now that I feel I should cancel my reservation. I have to Jan 14th to do so or my CC gets charged. Having bought a house recently, I'd love to just conserve my funds. I don't have much problems driving back and forth from NJ to the catskills, it's only 2 hours from the northern catskills to my home so if you want to back out or so, let me know and I'll can the reservation. I can still hike both saturday and sunday, but I don't want to be stuck with the Hotel reservation if you don't want to hike.

Terri, that sounds like a plan. Carol is doing the safer option of doing WHP out and back and then to Blackhead. We have plans to meet Chip at Peck road at 8am, which means if you want to do your car spot, we'd have to meet at the end of Big Hollow by say 7:15.

Jay

Jay

[daxs]

Jay, if the room does not pan out, I have no problem camping or staying at the batavia kill lean to versus driving back and forth each day. Gee, maybe we can lug a duraflame log into the lean to.

[cantdog]

Regarding the weather. I just got a PM from Chip saying that he'll probably camp out. Now Julie, if you don't want to hike due to the weather, let me know ASAP, because I'm at the point now that I feel I should cancel my reservation. I have to Jan 14th to do so or my CC gets charged. Having bought a house recently, I'd love to just conserve my funds. I don't have much problems driving back and forth from NJ to the catskills, it's only 2 hours from the northern catskills to my home so if you want to back out or so, let me know and I'll can the reservation. I can still hike both saturday and sunday, but I don't want to be stuck with the Hotel reservation if you don't want to hike.

Terri, that sounds like a plan. Carol is doing the safer option of doing WHP out and back and then to Blackhead. We have plans to meet Chip at Peck road at 8am, which means if you want to do your car spot, we'd have to meet at the end of Big Hollow by say 7:15.

Jay

Jay

Ok, cancel it. Thanks for sticking your neck out though. I just don't want to get up at 3:00 and drive 4 hours only to get rained on-a 60% chance at this point.

You all have a good time. I'll stay in touch.

[Jay H]

Sure will, maybe I will get to try out hiking with an umbrella... :)

Jay

[daxs]

Last night the weather forecast for Tannersville gives only a chance of showers both days. Even though its only a chance, a lean to for Sat would be nice.

[daxs]

Ok, the forecast this am for Saugerties and Tannersville gives temps in the 40's and a chance of showers. Sunday colder, only in the 20's with a chance of snow showers. Gee. This type of forecast makes it hard to decide what clothes and gear you will need. Summer boots and warm weather gear for Sat and gear for cooler weather on Sat night and Sunday. They wasy the weather is going my winter boots probably won't make it out of the closet.

[cantdog]

Folks, if you click on the link I put in a previous post, it shows a 70% chance of rain Saturday. I definitely suggest packing all the necessary gear as not to be miserable.

[Jay H]

Pack an umbrella! When I did the presi traverse this year, I ran into two guys just south of Mt Washington heading to Lake of the Clouds who had umbrellas! I guess above treeline, you wont have to worry about banging into branches...

Probably would work well on KHP since that's a wide path/road for the most part til you get to the summit cone...

Jay

[TFR]

Pack an umbrella! When I did the presi traverse this year, I ran into two guys just south of Mt Washington heading to Lake of the Clouds who had umbrellas! I guess above treeline, you wont have to worry about banging into branches...

Probably would work well on KHP since that's a wide path/road for the most part til you get to the summit cone...

Jay

Yikes, an umbrella above tree line could turn into a shredded mess if the winds were high.

I've heard a certain hike leader for the 3500 Club brings an umbrella! :D

I've also seen the ever stylish and economical garbage bag approach as well.

[hermit]

Hey Jay,
Good luck Sat. I have KHP in Jan. or else I would join you. I may be on Eagle and Big Indian Sat.getting wet,but it won't be the 1st time.Maybe I can catch up with you folks afterwards for a beer or 2.

[daxs]

Ralph, That is good news. My pile of gear and clothing the wide temp ranges for the week end as well as rain is tremendous. Maybe I can cut back.

[Jay H]

Carol, I wouldn't, I would be prepared for rain, if I was you. Just the fact that the so-called weathermen have changed their minds about 100 times in the last 5 days should tell you something ;)

Jay

[Jay H]

Carol, aren't you glad that you did prepare for rain.. :)

Told you the forecasters are never to be trusted with anything more deadly than a nail filer.

Jay

[daxs]

Well, the rain on saturday's hike was not that bad. The rain saturday night while we were wetting up camp, thats a different story. The hardest part of the weekend was getting out of the tent on Sunday morning. Chip, thanks for hauling the tarp and the winter tent. I was warm and cozy all night long despite the weather raging outside.