Sunday, December 31, 2006

Plateau II

(movie guy voice)
In a world ... where people have too much time on their hands ... Comes a story about a guy and his beagle ... Join them on their last adventure of the year ... As they tackle a mountain that has eluded them in the past. Will they be able to overcome easily surmountable obstacles to make it to the top?
Plateau II ... This time it's personal!

Yes, Howie and I finished out the year by climbing Plateau mountain in the Catskills. I parked at the Notch lake trailhead and we started up the Devil's Path. It was a strenuous climb to reach the first look out. There was only a dusting of snow and a few icy spots on the way up. We continued along the long ridge to the "real" summit and then returned back to the car. On the way down, I could hear cowbells in the distance. It turned out to be a dog. We had a sunny and warm day (for end of December anyway) for our last hike of 2006.

Summit Elevation: Plateau 3840 ft
Round-trip Distance: 6.4 mi
Elevation Change: 1860 ft


View to the North


View to the South

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Pine Hill

Howie and I headed north for today's hike. We climbed Pine Hill in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness (Adirondacks). Parked at the trailhead on Route 74 and started out on the Short Swing Trail (blue markers). After almost 3 miles, we left the trail and headed uphill. It was a short 0.5 mile bushwack to reach the top of Pine Hill. There were many open and rocky patches which provided views in different directions. We took a short lunch break and then headed down - ending up at Horseshoe pond. Navigated around the pond and back to the blue trail which we took back to the car. Saw nobody else in the woods today. Everyone must have been at the mall. It was a warm day, but very cloudy and gray.

Summit Elevation: Pine Hill 1900 ft
Round-trip Distance: 8.0 mi
Elevation Change: 1500 ft


Horseshoe Pond


View from top (Pharaoh mountain in distance)

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Stopped at Stoppel

Howie and I did a hike in the Northern Catskills on this sunny day. We parked at the end of Storks Nest Road and started up on the Dutcher Notch trail. When we reached the junction, we turned left onto the Escarpment Trail. We went all the way to Stoppel Point. I got a late start today, so there wasn't enough time to go much further. So, we turned around and headed back to the car. There was only a dusting of snow on the upper portions of the trail. Where's the snow .. Mr. Snow Miser?

Summit Elevation: Stoppel Point 3420 ft
Round-trip Distance: 8.2 mi
Elevation Change: 2270 ft


Icicles


View to the north


View of Blackhead range

Friday, December 08, 2006

From the archives


Here is a photo from my first hike ever - Mount Marcy in the Adirondack high peaks (Aug 2000)
(Not a recommended hike for a newbie however ... it's almost a 15 mile trek !!)

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Equinox

Howie and I did a hike today in Southern vermont near Manchester. We climbed Equinox mountain (sounds like a mountain name that a corporate committee came up with). The blue trail started at the Burr and Burton Seminary behind the athletic fields. The first part was an old logging road that wound its way up the mountain. We took a short spur trail to the upper spring (a white plastic pipe stuck in the side of the hill with water gushing out), and then continued on up to the summit. The trail was more of foot path at this point. On the summit, there is an old hotel and a bunch of antennas and relay towers. BTW, there is a toll road that takes you to the top as well ... but that's for wimps. There were no cars parked in the lot near the hotel, so I am guessing that the road is now closed for the season.
We wandered around the top for a bit, and then continued on the ridge trail to Lookout Rock, passing Mr. Barbo's memorial on the way (Mr. Barbo is a dog). Stopped for snacks and photos at the lookout and then returned back to the car (using the yellow trail to take us back to the blue trail). We saw only a few other hikers out on this cool and partly sunny day.
On the drive back, I stopped at two covered bridges near Arlington - the Chiselville Bridge and the Bridge at the Green.

Summit Elevation: Equinox 3850 ft
Round-trip Distance: 5.8 mi
Elevation Change: 2880 ft




Trying to look not confused


View from hotel's deck


Bridge at the Green



Chiselville Bridge