The Catskill mountains aren't known for their high altitude, or for their
accessibility. They're not in fact real mountains in a geological sense, but
are a very deeply eroded plain carved out by the ice sheets in the most
recent ice ages. However, nobody hiking in the Catskills would say they're
not mountains after trekking up and down their steep climbs, which can be
over a 1/2 mile of vertical in places.
This Catskill 100 mile route is a tour of the most popular Catskill hiking
trails, over the many of the most famous of the Catskill mountains. It first
traverses the southern Slide mountain wilderness area, topping 6 mountains
over 3500' in the first 28 miles. It then traverses the long east-west
devil's path, bagging a further 7 3500 footers. After turning north, it
grabs another 5 3500' peaks, touring the historic mountain houses area, and
ending with the beautiful escarpment trail.
The trek begins on peekamoose road west of ashokan reservoir. The first part
of the trail takes you up a steady climb of 2600 vertical feet in 3.3 miles
to the summit of peekamoose mountain (3843'😉, and in this you'll get a
flavor of what the trail will be like the entire distance: very rough and
very steep at times. Turning west, you'll soon top Table mountain (3847'😉
before descending into a valley, crossing the east branch of the Neversink
river before mounting a long steady climb up the shoulder of the Catskill's
highest peak, Slide mountain (4180'😉. After descending the steep slide,
you'll soon top Cornell (3860'😉 and Wittenburg (3780'😉, which has the best
views of all the southern Catskill peaks. Descending into the woodland
valley campground, you have your first car support before ascending up to
Giant Ledge, and Panther mountain (3720'😉. This section ends as you cross
route 28 on 3.5 miles of roads before plunging into the wilderness again.
In order to join the devil's path, you'll have to go off-trail for about 4
miles after ascending peck hollow road. Here's where that map and compass
come in handy, even though the route is easy by backcountry standards:
simply ascend peck hollow creek onto the shoulder of North Dome mountain
(3610'😉, and then after summiting, turn magnetic east, descending to join
the devil's path. Extra credit is earned if you also bag Mount Sherrill
(3540'😉 to the west of North Dome. (This will add about 2.5 additional
"off-trail" slow miles, depending what route you take, but it isn't part of
the 100 mile route).
Off-trail in the Catskills is very rugged, and you'll no doubt be very glad
to be on a trail again, though the Devil's Path is no picnic. Mounting West
Kill ridge, you'll eventually top West Kill mountain (3880'😉, then descend
into diamond notch. And this is what you'll now be doing all day - ascending
mountain tops, and descending steeply into deep ravines. Ascending the col
between Southwest Hunter and Hunter mountains, you can get 2 more extra
credit miles if you choose to bag Southwest Hunter (3740'😉, but you'll
probably get lost in the dwarf spruce trees, so don't try. A bit further on,
you must take the side trail up to the top of Hunter mountain (4040'😉, as
this is part of the 100 mile route. Rejoining the devil's path, further
descending/ascending follows over Plateau mountain (3840'😉, Sugarloaf
mountain (3800'😉, Twin mountain (3640'😉, and Indian Head mountain (3573'😉.
After about 60 miles, by now you'll be ready to make a deal with the devil,
but, take heart, you're headed for what is arguably the most beautiful part
of the Catskills: the falls and North/South Lake area. First you'll cross
platte clove road on the long path, and then climb steadily up to the
shoulder of Kaaterskill High Peak (3655'😉, which you must climb via another
off-trail adventure, though this one is much easier than North Dome.
Unmarked trails lead north off the summit and after you find the long path
again, you'll cross above a few very scenic waterfalls before descending to
cross route 23a.
After ascending the harding road trail, you'll turn left onto the escarpment
trail until you reach the short unmarked side trail to the kaaterskill falls
overlook (required). Next take a short detour on the red trail north to
rejoin the escarpment trail, which will bring you to the Catskill mountain
house overlook and then to North lake, which is at about 78 miles.
From here you'll begin the final long trek northwest, first ascending to the
magnificent views of North Point before topping North mountain (3180'😉 and
Stoppel Point (3420'😉. After descending into dutcher notch, you'll climb
long and steep to Blackhead Mountain (3940'😉. Now, while the escarpment
trail heads north, you must first bag Black Dome mountain (3980'😉 and then
Thomas Cole mountain (3940'😉 to the west. Without this detour (and that of
Hunter and Kaaterskill), the route wouldn't be 100 miles, and also most
people hiking the escarpment trail don't want to detour to bag these two, so
we must insist upon it. Reversing course back to Blackhead, you then descend
steeply to the north now back on the escarpment trail, which bobs and weaves
it's way around to and up Windham high peak (3524'😉, passing some marvelous
views along the way. Down from Windham is a cruise and you'll soon be ready
for a long rest.
The total mileage is between 100 and 101 miles, depending on your off-trail
skills. (If you get lost it could be considerably more). If you do the extra
credit, you'll be at about 105 miles, but you could also have detoured south
to Overlook mountain (3140'😉 before leaving the devil's path, and that would
add a further 8.2 miles. The total climb is somewhere between 30,000 and
40,000 feet, closer to the latter with the extra credit miles of course.
Congratulations, you've just bagged 18 of the Catskill 3500' peaks (2 more
with the extra credit), and the most rugged trails the Catskills have to
offer.
Required:
Maps & compass, hydration bladder and water filter, first aid kit, long
pants, long sleeve top, raingear, 2 kinds of fire starter, food, bivy sack,
camera
Overview map of southern section:
http://i1.tinypic.com/nzlp29.jpg
Overview Map of middle and northern sections:
http://i1.tinypic.com/nzlpia.jpg
For maps required to carry:
http://www.nynjtc.org/
Goals: "fast pack" it in '06, "run" it in '07, then consider attempting to
make a race out of it. Anyone else interested let me know.
-Tony