5/22/07 - Kaaterskill High Peak

mountainmeijin · 05-22-2007, 10:57 PM

I realized that with college classes out I can now hike midweek so long as it doesn't conflict with my work schedule. So why not today, if the weather was going to be so nice?

I started out of the Long Path PA on Platte Clove Road at about 10:45 AM. The plan was to follow the LP around to the north side of Kaaterskill High Peak and pick up the snowmobile loop trail. From there I would loop around to the south side and take the unofficial blue marked trail up and over the summit and eventually work back to the LP. Once your legs get use to the moderate initial gradient, the rest of the hike is very easy, since the long flat stretches make for great moving breaks.

The snowmobile trail was quite wet, but I made good time, and didn't take a break until I was below the rock chutes that lead up to Hurricane Ledge. I'd hate to be anywhere near there in winter time. I was on the ledge by 1:30 pm. The view was topnotch, with only a slight haze softening the outlines of the DP Range. Predictably the camera battery died, so I took the batteries out of my GPS to power it. I turned the GPS off anyway when it gave me a moving speed of 48.3 mph and an elevation reading of 98,273 feet.

At 2:30, I started moving again, and found the summit bolt in good time. It's apparent that other people consider this a party mountain as well, with all the broken glass strewn around the summit. I cleaned up what I could but anyone who's cleaned glass out of a carpet knows what it's like. No barefoot hiking around there anytime soon.

I descended the north side slowly and methodically, not wanting to break my leg having just completed my 35. The biggest annoyance came on the return trip to the junction on the snowmobile loop, when I sank about 14 inches into wet mud and wound up hiking the last 4 miles or so in soaking wet muddy boots. Still worth it.

I'll try to have pictures up by tomorrow...I'm not 100% sure they'll work as I intend them to.

TFR · 05-22-2007, 11:26 PM

Finally!

Congrats!

Mark Schaefer · 05-23-2007, 12:46 AM

Good stuff. Congratulations!

You will be due some good karma (and not just the wet, muddy boots) for helping to clean up the glass on the summit.

05-23-2007, 04:59 AM

Congratulations Pete,

I finished my winter 3500 on Kaaterskill High Pk. also.That glass has got to go,I will bring a garbage bag up with me on 6-16 .

daLunartik · 05-23-2007, 06:18 AM

Woo-Whoo!

You picked a great day to finish - congrats!

Jay H · 05-23-2007, 07:55 AM

CAAAANNNNOOOONNNNBAAAALLLLL...

I finished my Winter 35 on KHP! Did you bowl down the mtn on the south side?

Jay

Rik · 05-23-2007, 08:08 AM

Congrats on your completion!

imarchant · 05-23-2007, 08:33 AM

Congratulations.

Great Mountain and day to finish on. Can't wait to see the pictures.

hoosier · 05-23-2007, 12:10 PM

Congratulations on your finish. Kaaterskill High Peak was also the peak I finished on. How did the trees fare un in the pine flats?

MattC · 05-23-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainmeijin

the rock chutes that lead up to Hurricane Ledge. I'd hate to be anywhere near there in winter time.

The only time and place I've ever had to turn around in the Catskills. Deep snow+steep grade added up to "we're out of here", after 20 minutes or so of floundering.

Congrats!

Matt

mountainmeijin · 05-23-2007, 03:19 PM

Pictures are up: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2...99999532dtTmcW

The trees are more or less intact everywhere. I encountered maybe one or two small blowdowns that had to be walked around all day.

Snickers · 05-23-2007, 05:38 PM

WooHoooooo!! Congrats Pete!!!

KHP is a special place!!

Ditto on the good karma for cleaning up.

Cindy

mudhook · 05-23-2007, 05:43 PM

Whooooo On the 22 I was working along the Elka Park Rd and took a little hike up the owners private trail to the loop and though I heard hoots of victory, must have been you. Glad you had some minor adventures or it just would not have been a true cannonball experience. Congrats, you earned it.

daLunartik · 05-23-2007, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainmeijin

Pictures are up: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2...99999532dtTmcW

The trees are more or less intact everywhere. I encountered maybe one or two small blowdowns that had to be walked around all day.

Pete - I made a couple of panorama's of your shots from Hurricane Ledge using AutoStitch. You got a nice shot of Huckleberry Point, and an outstanding shot of the Eastern Devils Path.

mountainmeijin · 05-23-2007, 06:55 PM

>> I made a couple of panorama's of your shots from Hurricane Ledge using AutoStitch. <<

Awesome. I've always wanted to try that myself. Nice to see how smoothly it comes out. I though I had some good pics of Plateau and Hunter as well that I was curious to try stitching together, but I'm not sure where they went to. Maybe I'll have to experiment with some of my other pictures.

>> I was working along the Elka Park Rd and took a little hike up the owners private trail to the loop and though I heard hoots of victory, <<

I wouldn't be surprised. I shouted across the valley a few times and actually got an echo back.

Jay H · 05-24-2007, 07:42 AM

Quote:

I wouldn't be surprised. I shouted across the valley a few times and actually got an echo back.

That was my snowman on the Curtis Ormsbee trail, her job is to simply return echos from any yahoo who screams Woohoo in the woods. I did not make the snowwoman but since it is on my trail, I can claim ownership.

Jay

coldfeet · 05-24-2007, 07:40 PM

Congrats Pete!....

Jay...did Matt mention "floundering"?...

Have a great summer everyone....giving my knees a rest...be well...

Jay H · 05-25-2007, 07:29 AM

Yes he did... There may not be much more floundering in the catskills! Better use it while you can.

Jay

05-22-2007, 10:57 PM	#1
mountainmeijin CANNONBALL!!!! Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 846	5/22/07 - Kaaterskill High Peak I realized that with college classes out I can now hike midweek so long as it doesn't conflict with my work schedule. So why not today, if the weather was going to be so nice? I started out of the Long Path PA on Platte Clove Road at about 10:45 AM. The plan was to follow the LP around to the north side of Kaaterskill High Peak and pick up the snowmobile loop trail. From there I would loop around to the south side and take the unofficial blue marked trail up and over the summit and eventually work back to the LP. Once your legs get use to the moderate initial gradient, the rest of the hike is very easy, since the long flat stretches make for great moving breaks. The snowmobile trail was quite wet, but I made good time, and didn't take a break until I was below the rock chutes that lead up to Hurricane Ledge. I'd hate to be anywhere near there in winter time. I was on the ledge by 1:30 pm. The view was topnotch, with only a slight haze softening the outlines of the DP Range. Predictably the camera battery died, so I took the batteries out of my GPS to power it. I turned the GPS off anyway when it gave me a moving speed of 48.3 mph and an elevation reading of 98,273 feet. At 2:30, I started moving again, and found the summit bolt in good time. It's apparent that other people consider this a party mountain as well, with all the broken glass strewn around the summit. I cleaned up what I could but anyone who's cleaned glass out of a carpet knows what it's like. No barefoot hiking around there anytime soon. I descended the north side slowly and methodically, not wanting to break my leg having just completed my 35. The biggest annoyance came on the return trip to the junction on the snowmobile loop, when I sank about 14 inches into wet mud and wound up hiking the last 4 miles or so in soaking wet muddy boots. Still worth it. I'll try to have pictures up by tomorrow...I'm not 100% sure they'll work as I intend them to. __________________ молоко хорошо, ну а водка ещё лучше.

05-22-2007, 11:26 PM	#2
TFR Peek-Bagger Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tillson, NY - Avatar: Whiteface Slide Posts: 5,379	Finally! Congrats! __________________ Tom Rankin - 5444W - Proud Member #0003 of ADKHP Foundation Volunteer Balsam Lake Mountain President Catskill 3500 Club CEO Views And Brews! Trail maintainer for the Dry Brook Ridge trail from Mill Brook Road to just past the Lean-to

05-23-2007, 12:46 AM	#3
Mark Schaefer Commander Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lake Katrine, NY, just inside the Catskill Blue Line Posts: 1,282	Good stuff. Congratulations! You will be due some good karma (and not just the wet, muddy boots) for helping to clean up the glass on the summit. __________________ “Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right.” Henry Ford My Photos: http://community.webshots.com/user/CatskillHiker

05-23-2007, 08:08 AM	#7
Rik Village Idiot Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Where the Truth Lies Posts: 2,576	Congrats on your completion! __________________ This post is for entertainment purposes only.

05-23-2007, 08:33 AM	#8
imarchant Consultant Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hudson Valley, NY, Avatar: ADK 46 Finish on Big Slide Posts: 366	Congratulations. Great Mountain and day to finish on. Can't wait to see the pictures. __________________ I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. - E. B. White

05-23-2007, 04:59 AM	#4
hermit Guest Posts: n/a	Congratulations Pete, I finished my winter 3500 on Kaaterskill High Pk. also.That glass has got to go,I will bring a garbage bag up with me on 6-16 .

05-23-2007, 06:18 AM	#5
daLunartik ____ Gronk! ____ Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,403	Woo-Whoo! You picked a great day to finish - congrats!

05-23-2007, 07:55 AM	#6
Jay H Ice Cream Time Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Pittsfield, MA Posts: 6,789	CAAAANNNNOOOONNNNBAAAALLLLL... I finished my Winter 35 on KHP! Did you bowl down the mtn on the south side? Jay

05-23-2007, 12:10 PM	#9
hoosier Somewhere in the woods Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Reading Pennsylvania Posts: 504	Congratulations on your finish. Kaaterskill High Peak was also the peak I finished on. How did the trees fare un in the pine flats?

05-23-2007, 03:19 PM	#11
mountainmeijin CANNONBALL!!!! Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 846	Pictures are up: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2...99999532dtTmcW The trees are more or less intact everywhere. I encountered maybe one or two small blowdowns that had to be walked around all day. __________________ молоко хорошо, ну а водка ещё лучше.

05-23-2007, 05:38 PM	#12
Snickers Commander Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Keeseville, NY Posts: 3,643	WooHoooooo!! Congrats Pete!!! KHP is a special place!! Ditto on the good karma for cleaning up. Cindy __________________ Snickers I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. -Maya Angelou

05-23-2007, 05:43 PM	#13
mudhook Forum Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: On the slopes of Old Clump Posts: 2,260	Whooooo On the 22 I was working along the Elka Park Rd and took a little hike up the owners private trail to the loop and though I heard hoots of victory, must have been you. Glad you had some minor adventures or it just would not have been a true cannonball experience. Congrats, you earned it.

05-23-2007, 06:55 PM	#15
mountainmeijin CANNONBALL!!!! Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 846	>> I made a couple of panorama's of your shots from Hurricane Ledge using AutoStitch. << Awesome. I've always wanted to try that myself. Nice to see how smoothly it comes out. I though I had some good pics of Plateau and Hunter as well that I was curious to try stitching together, but I'm not sure where they went to. Maybe I'll have to experiment with some of my other pictures. >> I was working along the Elka Park Rd and took a little hike up the owners private trail to the loop and though I heard hoots of victory, << I wouldn't be surprised. I shouted across the valley a few times and actually got an echo back. __________________ молоко хорошо, ну а водка ещё лучше.

05-24-2007, 07:40 PM	#17
coldfeet Commander Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 661	Congrats Pete!.... Jay...did Matt mention "floundering"?... Have a great summer everyone....giving my knees a rest...be well...

05-25-2007, 07:29 AM	#18
Jay H Ice Cream Time Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Pittsfield, MA Posts: 6,789	Yes he did... There may not be much more floundering in the catskills! Better use it while you can. Jay

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