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Winter CATSKILLS 3500 SERIES:

Bushwhack! Friday Mountain, Balsam Cap, Rocky Mountain and Lone Mountain

Difficulty: Very Strenuous - EXPERT ONLY
Distance: 10-12 miles
Total Rise: 3,700+ ft
Estimated Time: 10-12+ hours
Organizer: steven yansick 845-891-3127

The weather is warmer, the snow has been melting, lets bag this loop while its warmer on Saturday. The group WILL all take turns including myself pushing threw the brush, you will get the "full experience" of what bushwhacking is. After doing the bushwhack range, depending on time. We may bag Table and Peekamoose.

you must have food and +2L of water for the day. wear an outer layer from top to bottom that is water resistant/ water proof.

This is a bushwhack to the four neighboring trail-less peaks in the Catskills - Friday, Balsam Cap, Rocky and Lone. All peaks are part of the Catskill 3500 high peaks.

This is an extremely difficult hike, and many groups who attempt it turn back midway. Be prepared to push your way through very dense forest. You will be scratched.

YOU MUST HAVE A MAP AND A COMPASS TO ATTEMPT THIS HIKE. NYNJTC MAP 143. If you need to turn around you must have the navigation skills to get you back to the parking lot. YOU MUST HAVE MICROSPIKES (OR SNOWSHOES IF CONDITIONS REQUIRE) AND AT LEAST 1 (PREFERABLY 2) HEADLAMPS. WE WILL BE IN THE DARK FOR HOURS.

Friday, Balsam Cap, Rocky and Lone are the four bushwhack peaks between the Slide-Cornell-Wittenberg trail on the north and the Peekamoose-Table trail on the south.

Descriptions taken from the Catskill 3500 Club website (http://www.catskill-3500-club.org/):

Friday is thought to be one of the most difficult of the trail-less peaks. Its summit is surrounded by dense spruce and balsam and views are hard to find.

Balsam Cap is one of the three peaks with "balsam" in its name. This one lives up to it as it is surrounded by a thick spruce-balsam forest.

Rocky is the lowest of the Catskill3500 peaks and not as technically difficult as its neighbors, Balsam Cap and Friday. Its difficulty comes from its inaccessibility - having the longest distance from any road and requires the longest bushwhack.

Lone Mountain is a peak that rises up out of the Neversink Valley. There is a view towards Table south of the summit and a view towards Slide west of the summit.

We will be starting with Fiday and Balsam cap on the route at http://www.catskillhiker.net/Catskill35/peaks/friday.shtml

We will then continue to Lone and Rocky, following the Neversink River out to our parking lot at Denning Road.

Additional notes:

  • summit of Friday is covered with thick stand of spruce and fir trees
  • northern summit of Friday offers a fine viewpoint of Cornell and Wittenberg Mountains
  • possible to find scattered wreckage of a plane at the col between Friday and Balsam Cap
  • summit of Balsam Cap is more open than Friday and it offers views in all directions near the top
  • distance between Balsam Cap and Rocky is about 1mile
  • fairly flat summit of Rocky gives a partial view of Slide Mountain to the north

ESSENTIALS TO BRING:

At least one head lamp (preferably two) and spare batteries. We may be bushwhacking for as many as 4 or more hours in the dark. Water and Food.

Microspikes - Even if there is very little to no snow on the ground, they make hiking in wet leaves much easier. Snowshoes will be required at some points.

Food / snacks /water, first aid items; trekking poles may be helpful for this hike.

NOTE: DO NOT COME ON THIS HIKE UNLESS YOU HAVE AT LEAST A MAP, COMPASS, HEADLAMP AND MICROSPIKES (OR SNOWSHOES IF WEATHER REQUIRES).

GPS COORDINATES

Friday= N41 59.27 W74 21.75 (41.988588,-74.362593)
Balsam Cap= N41 58.62 W74 21.47 (41.998284,-74.360962)
Rocky= N41 58.37 W74 22.38 (41.972764,-74.372978)
Lone= N41 58.15 W74 23.38 (41.970595,-74.389544)

You agree when you sign up for this group or any of the events that you have read and understand the below. If you join us for a hike (or any other event), please understand that you are responsible for your own preparedness and well-being and will hold no one else liable in case of injury or mishap. You agree not to hold the Organizer, Assistant Organizers, or any other members responsible for any injuries, mishaps, or any other situation that may happen at a planned event. You are responsible to research the event, know the area, and bring the proper gear. Your attendance on a hike signifies that you have read and accept the terms of this liability waiver. Full waiver can be found on the ABOUT page.

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