Giant Ledge Overnite Snowshoe 1/23 - 1/24

BurntFoot · 01-24-2010, 04:23 PM

I hit the road from Morris County at about 7:30am on Saturday heading for Giant Ledge. At exactly 9:30am I arrived to meet Paul Ron at the Giant Ledge P.A.

When I arrived Paul was already waiting for me. After a few minutes of making sure everything was in the pack, we headed across the road and onto the trail.

The temperature was just right for me I had just the right combo of layering on so I never overheated. Paul said he could have gone for it being colder. Regardless, It was a beautiful day for a snowshoe hike. Blue sky and plenty of sun.

The untouched snow as Paul pointed out had beautiful small crystals that glimmered and shined in the sun & our camera's could not capture it. So imagine if you will

We passed a few day hikers going up to the Ledge on our hike. One day hiker we passed actually remembered Paul from 1 brief encounter last year hiking. Small world eh? Few minutes later we hit the junction.

We then made a left and followed the blue trail. Soon after hitting the blue trail some glimpse of what was in stock for us at the Ledge starting giving us a small taste.

Not too long after, we made it to the Giant Ledge. WOW! I never hiked the Giants Ledge and the views did not let me down. As Paul said "Who needs a T.V.?". We spent some time enjoying the view from a nice outcrop.

BurntFoot · 01-24-2010, 04:24 PM

After 15-20 minutes of just enjoying the view we started to look for a good spot to set camp. Paul knew of a great spot about 200 feet off trail. With our snowshoes we stomped the snow down to make it firm and hard for our tents. We must have been some sight, 2 men walking back n forth & in circles in a little 7x7 spot for a half hour. I was just imagining what we must look like to another person, thinking we were doing some strange ritual dance. Eventually the snow was solid enough to pitch our tents.

We cooked our meals maybe about 75 feet to the right on a nice little hill that had somewhat of a view to the western Catskills. We watched the sunset while eating dinner.

We watched the sun fade and hungout in the "kitchen" for awhile just soaking it in and enjoying the moment. Later on, about an hour and a half we headed to the Giant Ledge to enjoy some night time scenery of the mountains & valleys. We hungout at 2 viewpoints for maybe 3 hours and just listened to music and BS'ed.

We alternated between 2 spots. Whenever we got a little chilly we would hike to the other viewpoint to get the blood flowing. Somewhere around 9pm we headed back to our campsite, hungout in the "kitchen" for another hour and then hit the sack. I wokeup around 7:30am. After warming up my clothes in my sleeping bag I got dressed and headed to the ledge to catch some of the sunrise over the Cats.

20 minutes later, that whole valley was covered in a cloud. No more views. We decided to packup and get on back. We got to the P.A. somewhere around 11am and that was the end to a beautiful overnite snowshoe.

Doodles · 01-24-2010, 05:13 PM

You couldn't ask for a nicer day and night to be up on Giant Ledge.

Great TR and pictures.

Snickers · 01-24-2010, 05:16 PM

Looks like an awesome backpack, great photos. Thanks for sharing.

I was saying yesterday to Brian, as we were strolling up Kaaterskill Falls, that this would be a great weekend for a winter backpack.

Giant Ledge is a great place to camp, you get to see the sun set and rise and the campsites on the west side are beautiful. Bill, Judy, David, Shiloh and I had a great backpack up there.

Happy Trails - Cindy

BurntFoot · 01-24-2010, 10:48 PM

Thanks you two.

We plan on doing an overnite at Blackhead next Saturday. I'm contemplating taking the long way to the lean to that way I can do 3 peaks

rockysummit · 01-27-2010, 04:48 PM

Excellent TR and pics. Giant Ledge has always been one of my favorites. Brings back memories of backpacking up there with my boys when they were 3 and 4 (they are 26 & 27 now). They carried popcorn and gummy bears while I was the pack mule with 3 sleeping bags, tent, food, etc. We would do the same thing, just hang out on the ledges all night and then get up for the sunrise. Just a great spot. I tell everyone who wants to start hiking, and plan to head for the Cats, to hit up Giant Ledge. If you don't love it then you don't like hiking. Thanks for sharing.

billandjudy · 01-27-2010, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snickers

Giant Ledge is a great place to camp, you get to see the sun set and rise and the campsites on the west side are beautiful. Bill, Judy, David, Shiloh and I had a great backpack up there.

Happy Trails - Cindy

Yes we did

...Our second night after the Burroughs Range.

01-24-2010, 04:23 PM	#1
BurntFoot Sleeps With Mountains Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Morris County, NJ Posts: 92	Giant Ledge Overnite Snowshoe 1/23 - 1/24 I hit the road from Morris County at about 7:30am on Saturday heading for Giant Ledge. At exactly 9:30am I arrived to meet Paul Ron at the Giant Ledge P.A. When I arrived Paul was already waiting for me. After a few minutes of making sure everything was in the pack, we headed across the road and onto the trail. The temperature was just right for me I had just the right combo of layering on so I never overheated. Paul said he could have gone for it being colder. Regardless, It was a beautiful day for a snowshoe hike. Blue sky and plenty of sun. The untouched snow as Paul pointed out had beautiful small crystals that glimmered and shined in the sun & our camera's could not capture it. So imagine if you will We passed a few day hikers going up to the Ledge on our hike. One day hiker we passed actually remembered Paul from 1 brief encounter last year hiking. Small world eh? Few minutes later we hit the junction. We then made a left and followed the blue trail. Soon after hitting the blue trail some glimpse of what was in stock for us at the Ledge starting giving us a small taste. Not too long after, we made it to the Giant Ledge. WOW! I never hiked the Giants Ledge and the views did not let me down. As Paul said "Who needs a T.V.?". We spent some time enjoying the view from a nice outcrop. __________________ "A map is the greatest of all epic poems. Its lines and colors show the realization of great dreams." Gilbert H. Grosvenor Last edited by BurntFoot; 01-24-2010 at 04:27 PM.

01-24-2010, 04:24 PM	#2
BurntFoot Sleeps With Mountains Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Morris County, NJ Posts: 92	Part 2 After 15-20 minutes of just enjoying the view we started to look for a good spot to set camp. Paul knew of a great spot about 200 feet off trail. With our snowshoes we stomped the snow down to make it firm and hard for our tents. We must have been some sight, 2 men walking back n forth & in circles in a little 7x7 spot for a half hour. I was just imagining what we must look like to another person, thinking we were doing some strange ritual dance. Eventually the snow was solid enough to pitch our tents. We cooked our meals maybe about 75 feet to the right on a nice little hill that had somewhat of a view to the western Catskills. We watched the sunset while eating dinner. We watched the sun fade and hungout in the "kitchen" for awhile just soaking it in and enjoying the moment. Later on, about an hour and a half we headed to the Giant Ledge to enjoy some night time scenery of the mountains & valleys. We hungout at 2 viewpoints for maybe 3 hours and just listened to music and BS'ed. We alternated between 2 spots. Whenever we got a little chilly we would hike to the other viewpoint to get the blood flowing. Somewhere around 9pm we headed back to our campsite, hungout in the "kitchen" for another hour and then hit the sack. I wokeup around 7:30am. After warming up my clothes in my sleeping bag I got dressed and headed to the ledge to catch some of the sunrise over the Cats. 20 minutes later, that whole valley was covered in a cloud. No more views. We decided to packup and get on back. We got to the P.A. somewhere around 11am and that was the end to a beautiful overnite snowshoe. __________________ "A map is the greatest of all epic poems. Its lines and colors show the realization of great dreams." Gilbert H. Grosvenor Last edited by BurntFoot; 01-24-2010 at 04:28 PM.

01-24-2010, 05:16 PM	#4
Snickers Commander Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Keeseville, NY Posts: 3,643	Looks like an awesome backpack, great photos. Thanks for sharing. I was saying yesterday to Brian, as we were strolling up Kaaterskill Falls, that this would be a great weekend for a winter backpack. Giant Ledge is a great place to camp, you get to see the sun set and rise and the campsites on the west side are beautiful. Bill, Judy, David, Shiloh and I had a great backpack up there. Happy Trails - 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

01-24-2010, 10:48 PM	#5
BurntFoot Sleeps With Mountains Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Morris County, NJ Posts: 92	Thanks you two. We plan on doing an overnite at Blackhead next Saturday. I'm contemplating taking the long way to the lean to that way I can do 3 peaks __________________ "A map is the greatest of all epic poems. Its lines and colors show the realization of great dreams." Gilbert H. Grosvenor

01-27-2010, 04:48 PM	#6
rockysummit Commander Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NJ and Delaware Cty.NY Posts: 1,551	Excellent TR and pics. Giant Ledge has always been one of my favorites. Brings back memories of backpacking up there with my boys when they were 3 and 4 (they are 26 & 27 now). They carried popcorn and gummy bears while I was the pack mule with 3 sleeping bags, tent, food, etc. We would do the same thing, just hang out on the ledges all night and then get up for the sunrise. Just a great spot. I tell everyone who wants to start hiking, and plan to head for the Cats, to hit up Giant Ledge. If you don't love it then you don't like hiking. Thanks for sharing. __________________ And because of all their tears Their eyes can't hope to see The beauty that surrounds them Isn't it a pity -George Harrison

01-24-2010, 05:13 PM	#3
Doodles Commander Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Paltz Posts: 743	You couldn't ask for a nicer day and night to be up on Giant Ledge. Great TR and pictures.

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