Catskills Forest Fab 5 Backpack - Panther, Giant, Wittenberg, Cornell, & Slide

This one is an oldie, but a goodie. I have done this hike several times in all seasons and all types of weather. This a 2 day, 1 night backpacking trip. How hard is it? It is very hard, but as long as you are prepared, athletic, and love punishing yourself, you will be fine. If you show up in flip flops, wearing cotton, and have your stuff in a shopping bag/duffel bag, you won't get very far. It would be nice that you have backpacked in the past year at least once and have tested your gear. The most common mistake people make is bringing too much stuff and not enough water. Your backpack should be no more than 28 pounds (or 12.7 kg) with 3 liters of water.

We will be camping in Woodland Valley for 1 night. There are showers and flush toilets. There is a charge to camp there and there is a 2 tent limit per site. As of 6/12, there are 10 campsites left. I reserved campsite 54 for myself. If you want to reserve your own camping site, it is $30 via the NY State Parks website for NYS residents. If you want me to book the site for you, the cost is $15 per tent (non-refundable). You pay via paypal or venmo at kgmercury@gmail.com.

We'll be leaving leaving the NYC area Sat morning around 6:30 am and try to get to the trail head by 9:30am. We'll need at least 40 minutes to shuttle a car to the end of the trail.

This will be a strenuous 2-day hike Sat & Sun. On Sat, we will be starting at the trail head at Fox Hollow Road (see Map # 42) and hike 10.2 miles to the Woodland Valley State Campground and camp there for the night.

On Sun, we will hike 10.4 miles to the Slide Mountain Parking Area (see Map #43). That's a total mileage of 20.6 miles and covers 5 3000-fters: Panther Mt (3720), Giant Ledge (3200), Wittenberg Mt (3780), Cornell Mt (3860) and Slide Mt (4180).

It is absolutely important that you have all of the following gear:

Backpack

Headlamp

sleeping bag

sleeping pad

3 liters of water (there is potable water at the campground)

plenty of food for 2 days

synthetic clothes (absolutely NO cotton or denim)

worn hiking boots with ankle support (new boots will give you blisters)

flip-flops or sandals to change into at base camp

sunscreen

watershell or rain jacket

toiletries (biodegradable soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.)

Toilet Paper

stove (your meals will taste better heated) > it's ok if you don't have a stove, people will share ~ although it is nice to throw them a couple bucks toward buying a new fuel canister

Tent

Trekking Poles (optional, but your knees will love you)

Again, having these items are non-negotiable. It is dangerous to wear sneakers, flip flops or sandals while backpacking. It might be raining and some sections of the trail will be muddy and/or slippery. You will need to wear backpacking boots with good ankle support.

In addition to RSVPing, contact me if you need a ride or want to meet me at the trailhead. If you are driving and can offer ride to people, please let me know.

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BE FOREWARNED: I am not a professional and I do NOT take responsibility for your safety. The New York Backpackers is an AT YOUR OWN RISK organization. I am NOT a paid guide. I have NO safety or first-aid training, and neither does anyone else on the trip. There is nothing particularly dangerous about this trip, but we will be outdoors. People can hurt themselves in a variety of ways. You also need to be in decent physical condition and to be able to carry your own pack for the entire trip.

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Club Activities Risk Statement:
The activities posted on this site involve varying degrees of danger. When you participate in one on of these activities, you should be both mentally and physically prepared and equipped with the appropriate gear. You should always be aware of the risks involved in outdoor activities and conduct yourself accordingly. The organizer is not responsible for your safety, YOU ARE. Prior to RSVPing for this event, you are encouraged to discuss your capabilities with the organizer.