Balsam Lake Mt. & Graham

[Dick]

I thought I’d combine two hikes into one report. Thanks to Mark Schafer and others for their input on these trails. On Monday, April 17, Joanne and I hiked Balsam Lake Mountain. The day was in the 60’s, sunny, no wind. Due to a late start from home and a stupid wrong turn while driving, we started very late, so decided to forego Graham this time. We used the northern approach, off of Mill Brook Road, and were the only ones in the lot. In fact, we were apparently the only ones on the mountain all day, which was great. The “trail” up is really a jeep road, very wide, steep in a few places, but mostly quite moderate. Otherwise nothing particularly distinguishing about the trail, other than we’re still amazed at how open the woods are down there. We were not planning on Graham and so we weren’t looking for the turnoff. We were told that from that direction we might miss it (we did). Turning off toward the tower, the trail begins a series of very steep but short pitches, alternating with almost level ones, all the way to the summit. Close to the summit the balsam take over, with the fragrance of the trees filling our nostrils. One tiny patch of snow off the side of the trail was the only reminder of winter. The summit is sort of a smaller version of Hunter Mt.’s summit, ringed with trees and no views, with a ranger cabin, picnic table, and firetower. Joanne and firetowers don’t mix (but she’s just fine on narrow trails with 1000 ft. dropoffs in Switzerland – go figure!). The fact that there was no wind coaxed her up the tower, and she took lots of pics (coming soon). Descending, we easily saw the trail to Graham (can’t miss it from that direction). The rest of the trip back was equally uneventful.

Monday, May 1, Valerie had contacted us about wanting to do some Catskill hiking. We had planned on going back to do Graham anyway, and were always glad to have her company. I called the caretaker that weekend (Bill Scholl) for permission to hike the private mountain. He seemed surprised that I called, leading me to think that most people do not call. Very nice talk; he asked how many were going, which direction we were coming from, and told us we hike at our own risk and not to disturb anything or leave anything behind. Armed with that permission, we did the same approach as last time, on a totally sunny, slightly breezy day in the 60's. Bugs are out, but not biting yet here. The junction was burned into my memory, so it was easily located. The trip to Graham is a nice walk in the woods. First you sink like a stone, then level for a time, then climb up a series of pitches to the summit. The herdpath was wide and obvious, even easier to follow than some marked trails I’ve been on. A few blowdown sections were easily climbed through, or circumvented (some with well established herdpaths around them). Approaching the summit, we stopped at a nice lookout, and saw the remains of a power pole. The summit is small, and littered with remains of what I’m told was an old TV tower location. Central to all of this was the remains of the actual cinder block building. We took pictures of it all (including a well established fire ring – legal? Or perhaps made by landowners?). Some good views, including the tower on Balsam Lake Mt., which you can’t see from the main trail. I thought the distance from Graham to B. L. seemed much farther than from B. L. to Graham, for some reason. Anyway, back to the main trail and up Balsam Lake we went, so Val could visit. Up the tower for some views, than down for some rest and chit-chat at the picnic table, and out to the car. That makes Val a Catskill 2er, and Joanne and me Catskill 5ers. Hey, you have to start somewhere! Thanks Val for a great day, and for the tips on the GPS!

Pictures will be up soon.

Questions for anyone bothering to read this drivel this far:
1. Who does one contact for permission to climb Doubletop?
2. IF (and that’s a BIG if) we decide to do all of them, are correspondents needed, as they are in the Adirondacks?
3. I know there are three required winter hikes of specific mountains. Which ones are they?
4. We didn’t see a canister on Graham. Is there one there?

Dick and Joanne

[Jay H]

Questions for anyone bothering to read this drivel this far:
1. Who does one contact for permission to climb Doubletop?
2. IF (and that’s a BIG if) we decide to do all of them, are correspondents needed, as they are in the Adirondacks?
3. I know there are three required winter hikes of specific mountains. Which ones are they?
4. We didn’t see a canister on Graham. Is there one there?

Hmm, sounds to me like you two are working on a LIST????

1)Same person owns the land on both summits I believe. I doubt camping is legal since it is private land. (to answer your question in the post).
2)No correspondance is needed for the Catskills, unlike the ADKs. David White of the 3500 club handles the peaks so all you need to do is download/print out the tally sheet and fill it in, and send it in when done....

http://www.catskill-3500-club.org/

Look for "tally sheet"

3) There are 4, not three, they are Black Head, Slide, Panther, and Balsam. Balsam is NOT the same as Balsam Lake nor is it the same as Balsam Cap nor the other 2 minor Balsam named summits in the catskills They need to be climbed in the calander winter.

4)No canister on Graham, it's just the building. There is one on Doubletop though, on the north peak. If you need route suggestions, just post.

Jay

[TFR]

Laurie and I will be staying at the cabin a few weekends this spring/summer/fall. Not exactly sure when yet, but we'll try to keep everyone posted.

[Rik]

Originally Posted by Jay H

Hmm, sounds to me like you two are working on a LIST????

I had the same thought reading those questions. Jay did a good job of answering. One additional thought I have is that David White told me he prefers some details along with the tally sheet that he can use to write his letter back to you. Certainly not as detailed or involved as 46er correspondence but some notes and highlights.

[Dick]

Originally Posted by Jay H

Hmm, sounds to me like you two are working on a LIST????

Ah...yes, well...er...um...maybe. After all I've said about swearing off lists, Joanne (OK, I have to blame someone!) wants to do 'em. Actually Joanne was the one to push for our finishing the ADK 46, too. But we're NOT going to be obsessed about it. If it happens it happens; if not, so be it. We're only '5ers' at the moment anyway. We're hiking other things, too (Grand Canyon backpacking on the horizon, and Northville-Placid Trail thruhikes this summer, and lots of ADK stuff). Thanks for the tips and corrections.

Dick

[MattC]

I also had trouble finding that trailhead my first time there. After you've been there a time or two, it's a lot easier. Glad to see you two are enjoying that list you're not working on!

Matt

[Edelweiss]

Here are pictures of our Balsam Lake Mt. and Graham Mt. hikes of 4-17-06 and 5-1-06.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slidesho...Uy=vfeqoz&Ux=0

[Mark Schaefer]

Looks like you had nice hikes. These mountains do grow on you.

I believe the unidentified body of water in your photos may be part of the Beaver Kill. I do not believe Balsam Lake is visible from the tower as it is too close and would be blocked by the trees. I noticed the progression of your tower photos is a pan beginning to the east, then moving south and eventually around to the north. The view is to the southeast in the first picture with the body of water. In that photo Table and Peekamoose are the two high mountains in the upper left. And Red Hill (a 2980' mountain with a fire tower) should be one of the small three peaks just to the right of center. All of that leads me to believe the water is a part of the Beaver Kill, one of the best trout fishing streams in the Catskills.

[billandjudy]

Perfect days for you guys--Great pics, brought back memories although our day up there wasn't quite as scenic--Back in November--it was quite brisk and overcast. We came up from Quaker Clearing and the Beaver Kill. over to Graham and looped back via the Dry Brook. 2 hikes I want to do--Mill Brook Ridge and Dry Brook Ridge. Glad you are enjoying the Catskills--

[TFR]

Originally Posted by Edelweiss

Here are pictures of our Balsam Lake Mt. and Graham Mt. hikes of 4-17-06 and 5-1-06.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slidesho...Uy=vfeqoz&Ux=0

The body of water is Tunis Pond, according to Laurie.

[Mark Schaefer]

Originally Posted by TFR

The body of water is Tunis Pond, according to Laurie.

I concur, it is Tunis Pond. I now recall hearing that from one of the tower stewards, or perhaps one of the rangers (old days). Thanks for the correction Laurie and Tom.

FWIW, with that perspective on things I see that Red Hill is not in the first photo of Tunis Pond. Those three little hills right of center must be Spencer's Ledge, Samson, and Bangle Hill. Red Hill begins to appear two photos later. It is to the right of two low hills with some meadows (looks like light bare spots). I recall once driving on the very primitive Rudolf Road on the way to Red Hill through those meadows, and admiring the great open view toward Doubletop and Balsam Lake Mt. In the next photo Denman Mt appears to the right of Red Hill. In later pictures there are many low hills to the south which I do not know well until the long Woodpecker Ridge comes into the foreground of several photos to the west.