Indian Head and Twin 8/19/12

[RockON]

Having played golf for the first time in two years on Friday, I rode the Saratoga and North Creek RR to North Creek then the shuttle to Gore and the gondola to the summit on Saturday with my sons' scout troop. Back home early, I took two motrin to quiet my screaming right shoulder which I had injured playing golf, and went to bed early. I planned to take a nice walk in the woods on Sunday.

Sunday was clear on the calendar but I couldn’t get any takers for a hike in the Catskills, not even the Wiz brothers were available. So I loaded my gear in the car and headed down right after church. After a stop for gas and snacks, I hit the Prediger Road parking area at 10:30 and signed in at 10:45. Heading up to Jimmy Dolan Notch the trail was dry; only the first brook had any water but I would hardly say it was running. I passed dozens of people coming down and felt compelled to speak with each of them. I received different advice on whether to hit IH or Twin first. Upon reaching the notch at around 11:55 I had a snack and decided to go with my original plan of climbing IH and then seeing what was left in the tank.

I had a nice climb and reached IH summit around 12:25. I say around because like other Catskill summits, I walked all over until I was clearly going down the other side just to make sure I had reached the top. Heading down I experienced some vision problems which have plagued me for the last few years and thought it might be best to head back down and leave Twin for another day. Back at the notch at 12:55 I had another snack and decided I might as well try for Twin while I was in the neighborhood.

The climb up Twin was very enjoyable, with the possible exception of a few places where hands and arms were needed. Those spots reminded me that golf can lead to more injuries than hiking. I reached the false summit and loved the views. There was one guy there who said the walk over to the true summit was very enjoyable and I soon found he was right. I reached the true summit at 2:10 where I joined a nice couple on the ledge. He advised that he had been startled by two snakes which he thought might be rattlers on the lower ledge furthest to the right. I took a glance but they had retreated under the balsam. There have been lots of reports of snakes this summer both in the Cats and the ADK. My philosophy on snakes is that if I stay far enough away to be unable to make a definite identification, both the snake and I will be safe.

The trip down was slow as my knees competed with my shoulder to see which could complain the loudest. I’ll call it a draw. Even at that time of day I passed people heading up including one man front packing an infant. I mean this baby was weeks, if that, certainly not months old. Way to go dad! I signed out at around 4:30. I set no speed records but that wasn’t the point. I consumed no electrolytes but that wasn’t the point either. The point was to get out, stretch myself out a bit and recapture a bit of hiking mojo. I did it and I am glad. It was a really nice day for a walk in the woods.

[PA Ridgerunner]

Nice job, Bob! Love both of those mountains. Be glad you didn't loop up over IH from the other side...some pretty steep stuff there that would have been hell on your shoulder. That said, do go back sometime and try the IH loop. Lots of fun and that's the side all the views are on.

[mountainmeijin]

Sounds like a great day. At some point, however, the east side of IH will be worth seeing. Spectacular stuff in that area.

[vieWseeker]

nice Solo BOB... some days it pays off ....

[Hiker41]

RockON,
After reading your trip report I decided to hike Twin again and go up Pecoy Notch for the first time. You where right there are some very steep climbs right before Twin's summit. I used both hands in places holding on to some old tree roots to get up the trail. I also saw some snake skin on the east summit view point.

[Gerard01]

Nice TR, Bob. Wish I could have gone up with you. Maybe in Sept.