Adventures in the Outdoors

From the Archives - Lookout Point in the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park - Northbridge, Massachusetts

2012-01-21T09:57:00.000-08:00

Lookout Point is a rock promontory overlooking the Blackstone River in the southern portion of the Town of Northbridge. There are two trails that you can use to the access the site. The longer approach is from the south and via King Phillip's Trail. The shorter and more level walk is from a parking area on Quaker Street which quickly follows the height of land and brings you to the cliffs and overhangs at Lookout Rock.

The King Phillip's Trail is about 1.3 miles in each direction and the trail from Quaker Street to Lookout Rock is less than a half of a mile in each direction. The King Phillip's Trail is level for the majority of its length as it runs just above the floodplains of the Blackstone River. As it reaches the base of Lookout Rock, the trail scrambles up where you can either bear right and head out to the parking lot on Quaker Street or bear left and end up on top of Lookout Rock.

Neither hike is overly difficult, but the hike from Quaker Street to Lookout Point is definitely the easier one. The King Phillip's Trail's only strenuous section is the climb from the river level up to Lookout Point.

Lookout Point sits on the eastern edge of the Blackstone River, a hundred feet or so above the river level. It gives you about a 180 degree view of the river's valley and is well worth either hike there. In the fall, it is a great site for checking out the changing leaves.

This trip is well worth the hour or so you need for the short hike or the couple of hours to travel via the King Phillip's Trail. With some advanced planning and some roadwalks, you can also make larger loops, traveling north up the western shores of the Blackstone from Hartford Avenue via the Goat Hill, Canal Towpath and Plummer's Trails, then east along Church Street to Quaker Street, south down Quaker Street to the Lookout Point Trail, then down the King Phillip Trail back to Hartford Avenue. That trip would be a little over five miles round trip.

More photos of the trip to Lookout Rock

For More Information
Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park

The Massachusetts Trail Guide offers a short discussion of the Blackstone River and Canal State Park with trail descriptions in the area.

Huckleberry Point Bushwhack - Catskill Mountains, NY - January 8, 2012

2012-01-09T10:37:00.000-08:00

Headed out this past Sunday to check out a small bog that's located near Huckleberry Point in the northeastern Catskills. The bog was found along with some interesting areas once you started bushwhacking off the Huckleberry Point trail.

The trip starts at the parking area off of Platte Clove Road just above the head of Platte Clove. This parking area serves the Long Path, the Huckleberry Point Trail and the snowmobile trail that circles around High Peak and Roundtop Mountains.

From the parking area we followed the old Steenburg Road that the trails follow. The Huckleberry Point trail branches off the snowmobile trail after approximately 1 mile. After another third of a mile or so, the trail crosses a small stream and on the eastern edge of the creek is an old road that the trail crosses.

At this point we jumped on the old road and started heading to the northeast. The road passed by the foundation of an old homestead/farm and then continued on just below the bog that we were investigating. The bog itself sits in the low point and actually drains in two directions - one down off the eastern escarpment of the Catskills and another drains towards the Hell Hole Creek and Platte Clove.

From here we continued along the old road, but we were running out of time as we had a pretty late start. This is a place that I would like to go back and explore, as the road appears to wrap around the eastern escarpment of the mountains and it would be an interesting place. It would also be interesting to go back and follow the road to the south from its crossing of the Huckleberry Point Trail to see where it ends up.

We had a few flurries and somewhat cold temperatures while we were out, but we continue to have a very mild and uneventful winter in the Catskills. The upper elevations have a light covering of snow, but at the lower elevations, we have some ice, but no real snow to speak of. This makes for nice bushwhacks though - no nettles getting in the way and not much undergrowth to break through.

After that we headed back down the old road to the Huckleberry Point Trail and then backtracked down the trails to the parking area. All told we probably traveled about three miles or so without any real huge elevation changes. The climb from the parking area to the Huckleberry Point Trail probably involves a few hundred feet at most. From there, elevation changes are pretty minor.

More information on Catskill Hiking
If you are looking for additional resources for hiking and climbing in the Catskills, the Trail Conference publishes the Catskill Trails Map Set, which is the best trail map set for the region with detailed mapping and trail descriptions. The ADK publishes the Guide to Catskill Trails and the AMC publishes the Catskill Mountain Guide, A Comprehensive Guide to Hiking Trails in the Catskills.

Other Catskills maps and guidebooks are available at our bookstore

Review: National Geographic Trails Illustrated Catskill Park Map

2012-01-05T11:30:00.000-08:00

National Geographic has recently released a new map for the Catskill Park in their Trails Illustrated map set. This map covers most of the Catskill Region with information on hiking, fishing and other outdoor recreational activities. The scale is pretty small so some details are lost in order to provide coverage of the entire park. The map itself is made from waterproof, tear-resistant material and seems to hold up to regular use without much problem.

Based on my prior experience with the Trails Illustrated maps, I expected a map of the Catskills that provided a good overview of the park, but that might be lacking some details. That is what I have found with this map. It is a great map for trip planning and road travel, but for trail travel, the scale is just too small and the map too big to make it much of a map that you would take hiking with you.

Read the full review of the National Geographic Trails Illustrated Catskill Park Map

Fee Free Days at US National Parks for 2012

2012-01-03T08:21:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars now for the fee free days at US National Parks in 2012!

National Park Service Free Entrance Days Information

Dates include:

January 14-16
April 21-29
June 9
September 29
November 10-12

Review: Green Mountain Club Northeast Kingdom Hiking Trail Map

2011-12-30T10:34:00.000-08:00

If you are exploring Vermont's Northeast Kingdom on foot and are looking for a map that covers the major hiking areas within the Kingdom, then you should take a look at the Green Mountain Club's Northeast Kingdom Hiking Trail Map. This small map covers a number of different areas in the Kingdom and provides trailhead directions and other information about reaching the trails that are shown on the map.

Having gone to college at Lyndon State in the Northeast Kingdom, one thing I always wanted was a good hiking map for the area that showed all the trails that are in the area. The White Mountain have them from AMC, as do plenty of other areas, but Vermont always seemed to not have the greatest map coverage at the time that I was in school. That is changing now with maps like this. While this map does not cover the entire Northeast Kingdom, it does provide a good look at the major hiking areas within the Kingdom and is a good starting point for anyone looking to hike in the area.

The map covers six areas of the Northeast Kingdom, which include:

Gore Mountain in Avery's Gore, VT;
Brousseau and Averill Mountains in Norton, VT;
Monadnock Mountain in Lemington, VT;
Bluff Mountain in Brighton, VT;
Burke Mountain in Burke, VT; and
Lake Willoughby in Westmore and Sutton, VT

Map Details

The map itself, which folds up into a small, pocket size, is made from a waterpoof and tearproof material, which makes it great for keeping in your pocket while you are hiking. The scale, which carries over to all the maps in the set, is large and gives you a close-up look at many of the trails and mountains in the coverage areas.

Each map includes a details on the mileage and directions to reach the trailheads for the trails that are shown on the maps. This comes in handy as some trailheads are located on unmaintained roads or need a bit of extended directions to find.

Trails are labeled on the map with both difficulty and mileage between trail intersections and landmarks. No matter the color marking on the ground, all the trails are marked in red dashed lines on the map. The difficult scale is fairly accurate going from easy to very difficult. Mileages are also accurate. State and public land boundaries are shown, as are shelters, campgrounds, mountain summits, viewpoints and parking areas/trailheads.

Experiences

Having found many of the trails shown on these maps either by accident or through written descriptions, I have to admit that it is nice to have them all in one place on one map. It makes it easier to plan out hikes when I am in the Northeast Kingdom and to find places that I have not already hiked.

I like how the map is made so I can keep it in my pocket while hiking. Through several walks and hikes, it has not come out any worse for the wear - no ink runs or smearing.

I really like the trailhead/parking area descriptions. Many of these trailheads are sort of "turn left at the big tree, drive a few miles, parking in the gravel pit" kind of places and the descriptions on this map makes them a bit easier to find than just having a "P" somewhere on a map.

Final Thoughts

For $4.95, this map is a deal. It gives you a good overview of the majority of hiking opportunities in the Northeast Kingdom, provides directions to the trailheads shown on the maps, and includes trail ratings and mileages. True it does not cover every trail in the Northeast Kingdom, but for a small map that can fit in your pocket, I think that it does a good job.

I would recommend the map to anyone who would like to hike in the Northeast Kingdom.

Explore the hike to Mount Pisgah on Lake Willoughby at Adventures in the Outdoors and one of the trails show on this map

From the Archives - Tunis & Vly Ponds in the South-Central Catskill Mountains, NY

2011-12-22T09:35:00.000-08:00

There are not many generally level and easy to accomplish for all hiking types trails in the Catskills. There is however, the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail which spends almost its entire length along the valley floors and provides a route to explore two remote, natural ponds in the Catskills. While, the entire Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail, from Black Bear Road to the parking area at the end of the Beaverkill Road is just over six and a half miles, the trip from the Beaverkill Road Trailhead to Tunis Pond is about three miles if you continue to the headwaters of the Beaverkill just beyond Tunis Pond. If you end at Tunis Pond, the trip is about two miles or so, but since some of the trip is bushwhacking, that mileage can vary a bit.

The hike starts out from the parking area and trailhead at the end of the Beaverkill Road. The Dry Brook Ridge Trail also starts from this trailhead, traveling north towards its Balsam Lake Mountain Trail. For Tunis and Vly Ponds though, head east on the yellow marked Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail. From the parking area the trail descends gently to Black Brook in just under half a mile. The trail then climbs gently over a ridge and then descends to its crossing with Gulf of Mexico Brook at about the mile and a half mark.

After crossing Gulf of Mexico Brook, the outlet to Vly Pond is the next major stream crossing that the trail makes. There is no official trail to Vly Pond, but several indistinct trails do leave from the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail. If you miss the herd paths, follow the outlet of Vly Pond northward from the main trail less than a quarter of a mile to pond itself. The pond is quite small and surrounded by swampy, grassy areas. Its higher levels are mostly maintained by beaver dams, so depending on the beaver activity, the pond may be higher or lower.

From here return back to the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail and continue about three quarters of a mile to the outlet of Tunis Pond. Again there are indistinct herd paths that travel to the pond just east of the outlet, but the most surefire way of finding the pond it to follow the outlet northeastward to the pond, which really is a series of smaller ponds that like Vly Pond, who's water levels are regulated by the amount of beaver activity in the area.

After you return to the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail I think it is well worth continuing on another three quarters of a mile or so to the point where the trail crosses the Beaverkill and begins heading south. It is an incredibly beautiful area and one of the few remote mountain valley areas protected in the Catskills. It reminds me a lot of stream headwaters in the Adirondacks.

Since a portion of this trip is off trail, I would highly recommend having a detailed hiking map with you (details on good choices are below). The two ponds are not that far off the trail, but considering the remoteness of the area, it is best to be prepared and the map should make finding the ponds a lot easier.

More Photos on Flickr

Trip Details
Trail Conference Map #142 (Trail Description on Map #143)

Maps and Guides for the Catskills
Need a map for the Catskills? The Trail Conference publishes the Catskills Trails Map Set, which I think is the best set of maps available for hiking in the Catskills. How about a guidebook? Both AMC and ADK publish Trail Guides to the Catskill Region

Long Path Trail Guide

2011-12-19T09:43:00.000-08:00

The Long Path runs from the George Washington Bridge in New York City to the Mohawk River near the Capital District. The trail, as envisioned, will eventually make its way to Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondacks, providing a north-south trail across New York and linking the Appalachian Trail and the North Country Trail, both of which are National Scenic Trails.

The Trail Conference maintains an online guide for the trail, which is a good resource for anyone considering hiking the entire trail or sections.

The online trail guide is available here

The Long Path traverses the Catskill State Park in its travels north, following many of the famous trails in the Catskills and reaches many of the Catskills' highest peaks, including the Devil's Path range.

More information on hiking in NY
If you are looking for additional resources for hiking and climbing in the Catskills, the Catskill Trails Map Set is a great choice. Maps that also include sections of the Long Path include the Shawangunk Trails Map Set and the Harriman Bear Mountain Trails Map Set. There are also numerous guidebooks available for different hiking areas of NY.

Other Catskills maps and guidebooks are available at our bookstore

Gear Review - EMS Divergence Fleece Jacket

2011-12-14T16:54:00.000-08:00

The Divergence Fleece Jacket from Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) is a comfortable and warm mid-weight jacket that offers more protection from the wind than a traditional fleece jacket. I have found it to be a good choice for outdoor activities in cooler weather and as a mid-layer beneath a shell in wetter or colder conditions.

Divergence Jacket Basics

The Divergence Jacket is made from Polartec Wind Pro Fleece, which gives this jacket a leg up when compared to traditional fleece. The difference is noticeable in light to moderate winds, though in stronger winds, the Wind Pro fabric cannot act as a windbreaker, so the resistance is not as noticeable.

In addition to being wind resistant, the material is breathable like other fleece, which allows moisture from your body to escape, while keeping warmth in. It also offers some resistance to moisture coming at you in the form of rain or snow. The jacket is not waterproof though, so in anything beyond a light snow or very light rain, it would be best to have a shell on over this jacket.

In addition to just fleece, a panel made from a mix of the fleece and spandex (they nylon/spandex on the outside and fleece on the inside) goes across the upper back on the jacket and down the sides to allow some extra stretch that is missing from fleece alone.

The cut of the jacket is slightly athletic and contoured to your body to reduce the bulk of the jacket. This comes in handy during outdoor activities as the jacket does not get in the way or bulk up underneath a backpack. There is also a cinch-cord at the base of the jacket, which allows you to tighten the lower end of the jacket to keep it closer to your body and prevent heat loss. The collar zips all the way up and covers about half your neck.

There are three pockets on the jacket, two traditional hand pockets near the base and a chest pocket. The two hand pockets are large enough to put your hands in while wearing gloves and the chest pocket is large enough to place a map or small electronics in.

The cuffs on the sleeves are made from the same material that the spandex panels are made from. This gives the cuffs a tight fit around your wrists, which helps keep moisture out and heat in.

The jacket is part of EMS’ SYNC system. It can be snapped into an EMS SYNC shell.

The jacket can be washed on the cold cycle in your washing machine, but it is suggested that it is line dried and that you avoid using any fabric softeners on it.

Divergence Jacket Experiences

I have had plenty of jackets over the years and a large number of those have been some sort of fleece jackets, so I was interested in seeing how the Divergence Jacket compared to others, especially my bulkier fleece and the soft-shells that I have.

When I first received the Divergence, I was a bit taken aback by just how light it seemed. The Wind Pro Fleece really does do an amazing job at reducing bulk, while still maintaining warmth. There is enough wind resistance to make this jacket warm in colder temperatures in low to moderate winds. That said, when the wind really blew hard, I could feel it and in those cases, a shell would make the difference and extend the range of this jacket.

For outdoor activities this jacket worked well for hiking in colder weather (20s to 30s) without strong winds. With a base layer on underneath, this jacket kept me warm and I did not find myself overheating as I have with some of my heavier fleece jackets. When I stopped hiking the jacket did a good job at staying warm and warding off low to mid-level breezes. However if the wind picked up or I was stopping for more than a few minutes, I did end up throwing my shell on over the jacket. In those cases, the jacket was warm under the shell and once I started moving again, the shell came off. I do not have a SYNC compatible shell, but with my regular shell, the jacket fit well underneath and the two were comfortable to wear.

Thanks to our snowless winter so far, I have not been able to use the jacket for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, but I think that it would do well as an outer layer during intense activities and as a mid-layer beneath a shell in colder conditions or when you were skiing downhill.

The jacket also does well for work around the house and when I am out and about. I have found it to do well in both cases. Because it is breathable and wind resistant, it is comfortable to wear when splitting and stacking wood where with heavier jackets you tend to overheat. The fact that it also contours to your body is helpful because the jacket itself stays out of the way. For general purposes, the jacket is fine to wear around town and out to dinner.

Divergence Jacket Pluses

I am usually not a fan of athletically cut clothing, but I do like the trim, body contoured cut of the Divergence Jacket. It fits snugly without being too tight. This cut also keep the jacket out of the way, moves with you as you are engaging in physical activity and fits well beneath an outer shell.

It might not seem like much, but I like the spandex cuffs on the sleeves. I like that snug fit. It helps me stay warm and if I was skiing, it would help keep snow from getting up into my sleeve if I was going through some powder or I fell.

The Wind Pro Fleece is a nice improvement over standard fleece too. It is not completely windproof, but it does give you a good base level of protection that gives the Divergence an almost soft-shell jacket quality.

Divergence Jacket Minuses

The Wind Pro Fleece is also a bit of a disappointment. It works very well in light to moderate winds, but with a strong gust mixed in or a steady stronger wind, the wind resistance of the jacket is not enough to protect you from the wind. For outdoor activities this is not much of a problem since I would have my shell either already on or be ready to wear it. When it comes to wearing this jacket around town though, you have to be conscious of the wind conditions, as it will not provide as much warmth when it is really windy. There is nothing worse than trying to pump gas on a cold and windy night in a jacket that just is not keeping you warm.

Along the same lines the moisture resistance on the Divergence is not much more than you would find in standard fleece. That means a light drizzle or a light snowfall is fine with this jacket, but much more than that and you will likely start feeling damp at the very least. In those cases, it is best to put the shell on over this jacket.

I like a hand pocket that is insulated and the Divergence pockets are not. The outer portion of the pocket is the fleece material, but the inner portion of the pocket is just liner, which does not provide much hand warming ability.

Final Thoughts

Out of a possible five hiking boots, I will give the Divergence Jacket four. My gripes about it are minor and do not detract from its functionality as an outdoor jacket.

It fits well, is warm and works in a range of conditions thanks to its wind resistance. It has been a good jacket for hikes in colder weather, will be a good base jacket for ski and snowshoe trips this winter and looks good and can be worn as a general purpose jacket when I am not out enjoying the outdoors.

Disclaimer: I received the Divergence Fleece Jacket free of charge from EMS in return for an honest review here on Adventures in the Outdoors

Catskills - Elm Ridge Lean-to Incident - Hikers threatened by lean-to occupants

2011-12-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

Both the New York New Jersey Trail Conference and the Watershed Post are running a story about an incident this past Friday night (December 2nd) at the Elm Ridge Lean-to located near the Town of Windham just off the Escarpment Trail.

A group of hikers affiliated with the Hudson Valley Hikers Group arrived late at the Elm Ridge Lean-to where they found it closed off with plastic and occupied by another group who appeared to be hunters. It's reported that the occupants refused to allow the hikers to use the lean-to and then assaulted them and threatened them with a gun to get them to leave. It's also reported that the occupants followed the hikers down the Elm Ridge Trail to the Peck Road Trailhead and followed them by car after they left. The hikers report that they called the NYSDEC, who intercepted them and the lean-to occupants who were following them. Both NYSDEC and the Greene County Sheriff's office responded and charges have been filed.

The stories can be found here:

One reason I tend to avoid hiking or camping during Hunting Season and would have probably just stayed away from the lean-to if I had seen it like this. It's never good to argue with someone who's got a gun. That said, these lean-tos are provided as first-come, first-serve and can hold up to eight people usually, which meant there was plenty of room in the lean-to.

We'll follow up as more details become available.

Recent Trails News

2011-12-07T11:18:00.000-08:00

Just a sampling of things going on in recent weeks:

Follow our Twitter feed (@outdradventures) or like us on Facebook to get the latest news and trail information.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-21T09:48:00.000-08:00

Any good hikes planned for the holiday week? We're settling in for a quiet holiday, but hope to get out to southern NH for the weekend. We shall see how the holiday traffic around Boston turns out though.

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving.

See you outdoors!

Middle and North Sugarloaf Mountains via the Sugarloaf Trail - White Mountains, New Hampshire - 10/13/2011

2011-11-06T12:31:00.000-08:00

Middle and North Sugarloaf Mountains are two small mountains that rise above the village of Twin Mountain and sit just north of the mountains between Franconia and Zealand Notches. The mostly open summits provide almost 360 degree views of the surrounding area including views of Mounts Lafayette and Garfield along with views of the Twin Mountains, Mount Guyot, Zealand Mountain, and the Zealand River Valley along with Zealand Notch itself.

The hike up the two Sugarloaves is not difficult and it makes an excellent half day trip. Access is via the Zealand Notch Road, so during winter months when the road is closed, the trip would be extended significantly as you would have to ski or hike Zealand Notch Road one mile from Route 302.

When the Zealand Notch Road is open, there is a small parking area for the Sugarloaf Trail approximatley 1 mile in from Route 302 and right before a bridge over the Zealand River. There's space for several cars. This is one of the fee areas in the White Mountain National Forest, so you'll either have to have a parking pass or pay on the spot for one. There's a self-service pay station.

The trail begins on the north side of the bridge over the Zealand River and follows the banks of the river for about 0.2 miles. At that point the Trestle Trail continues along the river and the Sugarloaf Trail turns left and climbs the bank of the river, crossing a fire road. After crossing the road, the trail climbs gently and passes through a few swampy and muddy areas. As the trail begins to climb more quickly, you come upon a few large boulders, one of which is split and you can walk in the crack between them.

At about 0.7 miles in, the trail begins climbing to the notch between the Sugarloaves in earnest. In about two tenths of a mile you reach the notch between the two mountains. At the trail junction the trail to the left climbs Middle Sugarloaf and the trail to the right climbs North Sugarloaf.

North Sugarloaf at 2,310 feet is just a tad shorter than Middle Sugarloaf, so we decided to tackle that summit first. From the trail intersection in the notch, the trail to North Sugarloaf descends slightly to avoid the cliffs at the southern end of the summit. The trail then wraps around the mountain and then climbs fairly steeply and quickly to the flat summit. The summit has several different open areas and there are views down to Twin River, across the Ammonoosuc Valley and up into the Zealand River Valley. There are also views at the southern end of the summit looking across to Middle Sugarloaf and then up to South Sugarloaf and Mount Hale. The total distance from the intersection in the notch to the summit of North Sugarloaf is 0.3 miles.

We were there on a fairly clear day and the view was well worth the trip. We could take in the nearby mountains, but also see the Presidential Range in the distance and the peaks to the north. When we were there it was quite windy on the open summit, but it was well worth it.

Instead of following the trail back down to the intersection in the notch, we navigated a quick bushwhack down through the rocks and the cliffs at the southern edge of the summit. The cliff line is broken in several places and with a bit of looking around, we made it down and then rejoined the trail right before the intersection in the notch.

Once again back at the trail junction, we headed south to Middle Sugarloaf. This trail is slightly longer and a bit steeper than the climb up North Sugarloaf. After a gentle climb after the trail junction for about two tenths of a mile, the trail turns to the right and starts going more steeply up to the summit. It's approximately 0.5 miles from the trail junction to the summit of Middle Sugarloaf (2,359 feet).

Middle Sugarloaf definitely has a more open summit and offers more expansive views of the surrounding area. We found ourselves spending probably twice the time on Middle Sugarloaf enjoying the view than we did on North Sugarloaf. The entire southern side of Middle Sugarloaf's summit is open slabs, giving you great views of the mountains and the notches to the south. The view up the Zealand River Valley into Zealand Notch is great.

We followed the trail from Middle Sugarloaf back down to the notch and then back out to the parking lot on Zealand Notch Road. All told our trip took about 3 hours.

Trip Details
Mileage: Parking area to trail intersection at Notch - 0.9 miles
Trail intersection to North Sugarloaf Summit - 0.3 miles
Trail intersection to Middle Sugarloaf - 0.5 miles
Total round trip mileage - 3.4 miles
Map: AMC's Franconia - Pemigewasset: White Mountains Trail Map

For more information
The Appalachian Mountain Club publishes maps and trail information for this area along with the entire White Mountain region in the White Mountain Trail Guide. This area is covered by the AMC's Franconia - Pemigewasset: White Mountains Trail Map.

Overlook Mountain Fire Tower - Catskill Mountains, New York

2011-11-01T08:48:00.000-07:00

The Overlook Mountain Fire Tower is located on the eastern edge of the Catskills Mountains and in that location, it offers a great view of the Hudson Valley, the Berkshires and Taconic Mountains to the east, the Adirondacks to the north and the Hudson Highlands and Shawangunks to the south. On a clear day you can literally see several different states including New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont.

The Tower is staffed in the summer months by volunteers from the Catskills Fire Tower Project, but even during the off season when the tower's cab in the very top is not open, the tower is a worthy destination with a great view.

Continue reading about the Overlook Mountain Fire Tower

More information on Catskill Hiking
If you are looking for additional resources for hiking and climbing in the Catskills, the Trail Conference publishes the Catskill Trails Map Set, which is the best trail map set for the region with detailed mapping and trail descriptions. The ADK publishes the Guide to Catskill Trails and the AMC publishes the Catskill Mountain Guide, A Comprehensive Guide to Hiking Trails in the Catskills.

Other Catskills maps and guidebooks are available at our bookstore

Some early snow for the east

2011-10-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

Most of the mountains of the Northeast received at least some snow out of yesterday's nor'easter. Ranges closer to the cost hit the jackpot with snow totals though. In the Catskills we received 15-18 inches of snow, which while melting fast in the sunshine and warmer temperatures, still means you should expect winter hiking conditions for the next several days.

Mount Pisgah via the South Trail - Northeast Kingdom, Vermont - 10/18/2011

2011-10-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

Mount Pisgah strikes a distinctive outline in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. While not a big mountain at only 2751 feet in height, the several hundred foot cliffs on its western flank that drop down almost vertically to Lake Willoughby below make for some very spectacular scenery. Not only that, but Mount Hor to the west of Lake Willoughby is almost a mirror image of Pisgah, nestling the glacial lake between two massive sets of cliffs. The outline of these two mountains can be seen from almost any high point in the Northeast Kingdom and both make for good hikes. I've always been found of the trail on Mount Pisgah though and on our recent visit to the Kingdom, we decided to hike this mountain again, years after we used to always be on the mountain when we attended Lyndon State College a bit further south in Lyndonville.

Two trails climb Mount Pisgah, both from Vermont 5A, one from the south and one from the north of the mountain. The south trail climbs Mount Pisgah in 1.7 miles and reaches the most spectacular outlook over Lake Willoughby in 2.0 miles. The climb is generally steady with a few steeper sections. The trail is well maintained though with plenty of rock steps to make the climb a bit easier.

The trail leaves from a small parking area opposite the the CCC Road entrance on VT 5A. The trail drops slightly, crosses a small pond on some board, climbs onto a glacial esker and then climbs gently to the base of Mount Pisgah. Just before the trail begins climbing directly up the mountain, there is a small sign-in booth that includes a map of the area inside of it.

After the sign-in booth, the trail turns and begins climbing the face of Mount Pisgah, quite steeply in places. The trail then begins to level off as it climbs onto the western flank of the mountain. From this point on, the trail skirts along the top of the cliff face until you reach Pulpit Rock, the first real view off the top of the cliffs (picture from Pulpit Rock is on top).

From Pulpit Rock, the trail turns right and veers away from the edge of the cliffs, instead, wrapping around Mount Pisgah and climbing steadily up its eastern face. The trail does get fairly steep in a few places and near the top, there are a few open rock areas that you traverse. Just below the summit is an open area that offers a great view towards the east with Burke Mountain in the front and the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the distance.

From this eastward viewpoint, the summit is shortly reached. The are no real summit markers, but you will quickly notice when you have reached the height of land and the end of the South Trail. It's 1.7 miles from the parking area. If you continue another 0.3 miles beyond the summit, dropping slightly and following the North Trail, you will come to the first of three overlooks on the North Trail. The 1st view is definitely worth it, as the viewpoint literally hangs over Lake Willoughby and gives you a 270 degree view of the lake, Mount Hor and the surrounding Northeast Kingdom.

This spot makes for a great picnic spot or a spot to sit and take in the world. The actual ledge is fairly small, but just up from the view are some open areas where you can sit and relax. We enjoyed our snack and the view and then headed back up to the summit and then back down the South Trail to our car.

Hike Details
Map: Green Mountain Club Hiking Map for the Northeast Kingdom
Mileage:
Parking Lot to Base of Mount Pisgah - 0.4 miles
Pulpit Rock - 0.9 miles
Summit of Mount Pisgah - 1.7 miles
West Overlook - 2.0 miles
4 miles round trip
Elevation: 1450 foot ascent (and 1450 foot descent)

Hiking information in the Northeast Kingdom
The Green Mountain Club publishes a hiking map for the Northeast Kingdom's trails. In addition they also publish the Day Hiker's Guide to Vermont, which includes the trails surrounding Lake Willoughby. Mount Pisgah's trails are also included in the Hiker's Guide to the Mountains of Vermont.

Ripley Falls via the Ethan Pond & Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trails - White Mountains, New Hampshire - 10/20/2011

2011-10-23T11:04:00.000-07:00

This short hike takes you up the western side of Crawford Notch along Avalanche Brook to the 100 foot tall Ripley Falls. The hike is only about a half mile in length (one way), but does climb steadily to the waterfall and offers a great view of the falls during periods of high water. I thought it was well worth the hour or so it took to get in, enjoy the view and then get back out to the car. It makes for a great quick trip if you're traveling through Crawford Notch and want to take in a walk without having to go too far.

The trail begins at the trailhead at the Wiley House Station, which is located on a road that climbs up from Route 302 just across from the Webster Cliff Trail. There is a sign for Ripley Falls along Route 302 at the side road and the Appalachian Trail crosses Route 302 here and climbs the road to the Wiley House Station.

From the trailhead, the trail climbs up to the Railroad tracks that make their way through the notch. The trail crosses the tracks and begins following Avalanche Brook upwards. There are a few small views through the trees towards the cliffs on the eastern side of Crawford Notch but no very open vistas. The trail climbs steadily in the 0.2 miles from the parking area to its junction with the Ethan Pond Trail.

At the time we were on this trail, this trail intersection was not clearly marked with any sort of directional signs. The white blazes of the Appalachian Trail and the Ethan Pond Trail continue up and to the right, while the blue blazes of the Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail take off towards the left. You want to stay to the left and take the Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail, which heads towards Ripley Falls, which is another 0.3 miles ahead along Avalanche Brook.

The trail begins to level off after leaving the Ethan Pond Trail, but does continue to climb towards Ripley Falls. There are a few wet sections along this portion of the trail, but nothing too bad.

As you approach Ripley Falls, the trail climbs and then descends down to Avalanche Brook at the base of Ripley Falls. This 100 foot waterfall is quite scenic. We were there during a wet fall so it had a good amount of water coming over, but I would imagine that the flow dries up quite dramatically during drier weather.

This was the end of our trip, but if you wanted to also visit Arethusa Falls, the Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail crosses Avalanche Brook and travels 2.5 miles to Arethusa Falls. There's no loop trail though, so you'd either have to have another car at the trailhead for the Arethusa Falls Trail. If not, you'd have to walk Route 302 northward back to the Wiley Station Trailhead.

If you are considering hiking up to Ripley Falls from the Wiley Station parking area, you should wear good walking shoes and be prepared for a steady hike. The trail can be done by children, as there are no really steep or difficult sections. Bring a bottle of water as you can work up a sweat from the climb up to the waterfall.

Trip Details
MAP - AMC Franconia Map
Mileage
0.2 miles from Wiley Station Trailhead to Junction with Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail
0.3 miles from Ethan Pond/Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail intersection to Ripley Falls
0.5 miles one way / 1 mile round trip (an hour)

New Hampshire Guides and Maps
The Appalachian Mountain Club publishes maps and guidebooks for the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

New Trips Coming

2011-10-22T11:39:00.000-07:00

A couple of new hikes are coming soon. This past week we were in Northern Vermont and New Hampshire and while they weren't major hikes, we did climb Mount Pisgah above Lake Willoughby in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom and Northern and Middle Sugarloaf in the White Mountains. We also checked out Ripley's Falls in Crawford Notch State Park in New Hampshire.

Plenty of photos, trail descriptions and information coming soon.

The Nature Trail and Cranberry Bog at Patriot Place - Foxboro, Massachusetts

2011-10-12T11:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes in eastern Massachusetts nature comes along in the strangest of places. That is certainly the case with the Nature Trail and Cranberry Bog at Patriot Place in Foxboro. This half a mile long nature trail goes around and through an active Cranberry Bog and its associated wetlands. A short portion of the walk goes through a wooded area where you can get an idea of the previous glacial topography that used to cover this entire area.

To get to the Nature Trail, there is a parking lot behind the Bass Pro Shops in Patriot Place. The trail starts here and makes its way to the front of the Bass Pro Shops. From there, it drops down and crosses through the wetland that is adjacent to the Cranberry Bogs. The Trail here is gentle as it drops from the back of the Bass Pro Shop to the bridging that crosses the wetland. Along the way there are informational and interpretive signs that explain about the functions and values of wetlands and cover information about the flora and the fauna of the area.

As the trail leaves the bridging, it follows along on a levee that holds the wetland from the operating cranberry bog. The trail here is wide and easy to walk and covered in a soft covering of woodchips. I would say that someone with a disability could make it out on to the bridging with some effort, but beyond the end of the bridge, the trail is just too soft (those woodchips) to go much further.

There are some informational signs on the active cranberry bog and if you time it right, I guess you could see the farmers harvesting the cranberries in the fall. We didn't luck out, but it was interesting to be able to see the field and the cranberries up close.

From the edge of the cranberry bog and the wetland, the trail goes into the woods where it makes a short climb onto an glacial esker. Eskers are the remants of rivers that existed inside of glaciers. When the ice melted, the sand and gravel inside the tunnel fell to the ground, leaving a narrow, winding, raised land form. This area of Massachusetts is filled with a number of glacial outwash features, many now lost to development, so this is a nice opportunity to see and experience this kind of land form.

The trail climbs steeply in a few places, but the treadway is good and the trail is well maintained, making for an easy walk. The bridge crosses a small inlet to the wetland on a bridge and then makes its way back up towards the parking area. The trail skims around the front of the wetland and then climbs up to the parking area.

A very easy, but rewarding walk that gives visitors a nice glimpse of a wetland, a cranberry bog and some glacial landforms. For most people it probably won't take more than half an hour or so, but if you enjoy watching turtles or checking out the cranberry harvest, you may end up spending more time there. I probably wouldn't specifically go to the Nature Trail again, but if I was hosting visitors and we were looking for a quick walk in the area, I'd take them there.

For More Information
Patriot Place maintains a website for the Nature Walk
The Appalachian Mountain Club publishes a Trail Guide for Trails in Massachusetts and a Trail Guide for the 60 Best Hikes Near Boston

2011 Catskill Lark in the Park - October 1, 2011 through October 10, 2011

2011-10-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

Join the Catskill Mountain Club, the Catskill Center, the NYNJ Trail Conference and a number of other different organizations in celebrating the 2011 Lark in the Park. This annual event is a celebration of the Catskill State Park and its Forest Preserve. This year's festivities includes guided hikes, bikes, and paddling throughout the Catskills.

On October 6, 2011 at 6:45 there will be an event hosting a cermonial signing of the new trail maintenance agreement between the Trail COnference and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation followed by a program of speakers.

For details on all of the events over the next two weeks, visit the Lark in the Park website:

2011 Catskill Lark in the Park

Review - MSR LiteLifter Pot Lifter/Grip

2011-10-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

Looking for a new pot-lifter for your backcountry kitchen supplies? The MSR LiteLifter Pot Lifter/Grip is a good, if slightly pricey choice. This very lightweight grip features insulated handles and is strong enough to lift the heaviest pots off of your backcountry stove.

Over time I have gone through my share of pot grips, having either lost or broken several. They tend to run from either very cheap and easily broken or very durable like this MSR LiteLifter. I would think the only reason I would need to replace this grip is if I left it sitting in the woods after I packed up. It is durable enough to last for years of cooking in the backcountry.

Read the full review of the MSR LiteLifter Pot Grip

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Available On Amazon

Adirondack Mountain Club's Catskill Trails Guidebook

2011-09-22T10:07:00.000-07:00

The Adirondack Mountain Club's Catskill Trails guidebook is edited by David and Carol White and covers the hiking trails within the Catskill State Park in New York. The guidebook is not quite as comprehensive as the AMC's Hiker's Guide to the Catskills, but for most people hiking in the Catskills, the two books are almost interchangeable. The only major difference is that the ADK book does not include a removable map.

The book opens up with a small map providing an overview of the Catskill State Park and a short introduction to hiking in the Catskills. Then as you get into the trail descritpions, the Catskill Trails guidebook breaks the Catskill trail network down by major areas that include the:

Black Dome Valley - Northern Escarpment;
Palenville, North-South Lake;
Platte Clove;
Stony Clove;
Pine Hill-Big Indian to Denning;
Woodstock to Shandaken;
Peekamoose;
Arkville to Seager;
Beaverkill - Willowemoc Creek; and
Prattsville to Shandaken

Each of these trail sections opens up with a short introduction to the region that includes a general overview of the area, categorization of the trails by short, moderate and harder, a list of all the trails that are described and a guide on how to reach the major trailhead of each area. There is a small location map for each region and that is followed by the descriptions of each trail in that area. Black and white photos are scattered throughout the book, illustrating some of the trails.

The trail descriptions each start with a short description and guide to the trailhead. In addition there is reference to the trail's location on the New York New Jersey Trail Conference Catskill Trails Map set. The descriptions themselves are thorough and generally provide a good idea of what to expect while you are hiking in the Catskills. Trail conditions and trails themselves do change all the time though, so in places the information may be slightly out of date. That said, just about anyone would be able to hike a trail following this guidebook, even if there are slight changes to trails.

The descriptions include mileages between major points along the trail, information on trail grade and descriptions of any vistas that you may come across along the trail. At the end of each description is a summary of the trail distances and elevation changes.

There are also several hike descriptions up peaks without trails. In these cases, the descriptions provide enough information to get a general idea how to bushwhack the peak, but a detailed map is needed for these trips along with some navigation experience before you should attempt to go into these trail free areas.

Following the descriptions, the book includes a series of appendices that includes a glossary and a list of peaks in the Catskills that are higher than 3,000 feet. That is followed by information on State Campgrounds in the Catskills, information about the editors and information on the Adirondack Mountain Club.

All in all, especially when used in combination with the NYNJTC Catskill Trails Map Set, this book is a good guide to the Catskill Mountains. It covers a lot of ground and gives you a good idea of what to expect when you are hiking in the area. I don't have a problem recommending it to anyone hiking in the region.

More Catskill Guides
AMC Hiker's Guide to the Catskills
NYNJTC Catskill Trails Map Set

These guides and maps are all available on Amazon:

Also posted on Associated Content

Catskill Trails Open

2011-09-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

The NYS DEC has reopened most trails in the Catskills. Several trailheads and trails do remain closed due to road closures and trail damage. The most up to date list of closures can be found on the Trail Conference's Post-Irene Trail Status Page.

Trails in portions of the Catskills are closed until further notice

2011-09-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation has closed all trails on the Forest Preserve of the Catskill State Park in Ulster and Greene Counties until further notice as of Thursday, September 8, 2011.

Per DEC: "Unsafe conditions remain in much of the backcountry of the Catskills due to the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and heavy rains which continue to cause flooding, bridge wash outs, trail wash outs, downed trees and other debris. In addition, many local roads are closed or only single lane traffic. As a result, DEC has received local requests to close trail heads in these impacted areas in an attempt to keep the roads open for local residents and emergency vehicles."

The information on the DEC website can be found here.

The Trail Conference is maintaining a Trail Status Page here.

Trails in the Catskill region in Sullivan and Delaware Counties (including the Dry Brook Ridge and the Huckleberry Loop Trails) remain open for use if the trailheads are accessible and roadways are not washed out.

We will be providing updated information on this story as it develops.

Mink Hollow via the Mink Hollow Trail - Catskills, NY - 9/7/2011

2011-09-08T07:37:00.000-07:00

The trip to Mink Hollow from the Roaring Kill Trailhead starts out on the yellow blazed Roaring Kill Trail. This short (0.25 mile) trail brings you to the trail junction of the Mink Hollow Trail and the Pecoy Notch Trail. Since I was out to check bridges post-Irene, I headed to Mink Hollow, which has two bridges before reaching the notch.

Since I was hiking a week after Hurricane Irene had passed through and after a night of heavy rain, the trails in general were very wet and there are some new blow down along almost every trail that you have to watch out for.

From the trail junction, the Mink Hollow trail cuts across a shoulder of Sugarloaf Mountain before climbing on the western side of that shoulder through a series of short steep sections and switchbacks. The trail makes use of the many old quarrries roads this run all over the mountains in this portion of the Catskills. In fact, the trail runs through or by several small quarries (though none as spectacular as Dibble's Quarry on the Pecoy Notch Trail). The biggest of these quarries is passed in just under a mile from the trail junction with the Roaring Kill and the Pecoy Notch Trails.

Can you tell the trail was a bit wet?

After climbing up to the height of land on the shoulder of Sugarloaf, the trail comes upon the only vista along this trail. The view looks down into Mink Hollow and across to Plateau Mountain on the other side of the notch. From the view, the trail makes a sharp switchback and descends to meet up with another old quarry road. This quarry road crosses a small stream on a bridge about 2 miles in and that is followed shortly by another stream with a bridge.

At 2.80 miles from the Roaring Kill Parking Area, the Mink Hollow Trail intersects with the Devil's Path just above Mink Hollow Notch and the Mink Hollow Lean-to. If you wish to go to the lean-to, take a right on the Devil's Path and head west. To climb Sugarloaf, take a left and head east. The Pecoy Notch Trail allows for you to do a loop over Sugarloaf from the Roaring Kill Parking Area with only the 0.25 miles of the Roaring Kill Trail being repeated.

I had made the trip to check on the bridges, so instead of a larger loop, I headed back down the Mink Hollow Trail to the Roaring Kill Parking area.

Trail Info
Roaring Kill Trail - Roaring Kill PA to Trail Junction - 0.25 Miles
Mink Hollow Trail - RK Trail Junction to Mink Hollow - 2.55 miles
NYNJTC Map #141

Maps and Guides for the Catskills
Need a map for the Catskills? The New York - New Jersey Trail Conference publishes the Catskills Trails Map Set, which is the best set of maps available for hiking in the Catskills. How about a guidebook? Both AMC and ADK publish Trail Guides to the Catskill Region

Hurricane Irene on the Trails - Updates and Information - especially the Catskills

2011-08-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Irene hit the Catskills hard with heavy rains and strong winds. Some places received over 12 inches of rain, which created flooding that has exceeded historical records for almost all Catskill rivers. A number of Catskill communities including Windham, Tannersville, Margaretville, and Prattsville received catastrophic damage while almost every other community received some sort of damage. Many bridges are out or damaged and many roads are closed and washed out.

For information on Catskill flood resources check out this resource from the Watershed Post

For the latest trail information there are a couple of resources

The NYSDEC has closed all trails in the Catskill State Park in Ulster and Greene Counties until further notice as of Thursday, September 8, 2011.

Trails in the remaining areas of the Catskills (Sullivan and Delaware Counties) remain open, and the Trail Conference is asking as you start hiking again, to submit any trail problems that you come across. This will allow the Trail Conference to organize and mobilize volunteers to tackle the most pressing trail problems.

Some pictures of damage through the Catskill's Hunter, Tannersville, Haines Falls and Platte Clove areas.

The NYSDEC has closed all state campgrounds in the Catskills until further notice.

Some hiking trails in the Adirondack's High Peaks Region are closed until at least Labor Day.

Trails throughout northern New England (Vermont and New Hampshire especially) have also been severely impacted. You should check with the local park authorities before making any trips.

We have also been providing news updates on our Facebook page if you don't already follow it.

Green Mountain Club is reporting on Trail Conditions throughout Vermont.

New Hampshire Division of Parks is providing information on the NH Park System.

White Mountain National Forest is updating their current conditions page with new trail information.

The Kancamangus Highway in the White Mountains is closed until further notice, eliminating access to a number of trailheads. Route 302 in Crawford Notch is also closed in place, limiting access.

New England Trail Conditions also reports on trail conditions throughout New England.