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Hike Thomas Cole, Black Dome, and Camel’s Hump, RESCHEDULED to Dec. 24, 8:30 AM

Take this 7.4-mile out and back hike along the Black Dome Range Trail. Beginning at 8:30 AM at the parking area on Barnum Road, this hike is rated as difficult and is expected to take approximately six hours. To register for this hike contact Al Purdy at Albertpurdy1@aol.com or (845) 489-2332 by December 22. Participants need to bring lunch/ snacks, water/ beverage, warm clothing, sturdy hiking boots, gaiters spikes, poles, and headlamp. Have snowshoes with you. This hike has a maximum of twelve hikers, and dogs are not permitted. Severe weather will postpone the hike.

Directions: From NYS Thruway (87) Saugerties/ Exit 20, turn right on 32 North for six miles and keep straight onto NY-32A. Take NY-32A for 0.6 miles, bear left onto NY-23A. Take Route 23A for 5.5 mi. and turn right onto Co. Hwy 25.  At 2.8 mi. stay right onto Co. Hwy 23C; in another four miles turn right onto Co. Hwy 40. In 1.1 mi. turn right onto Hauser Rd for 0.5 mi./ end. Turn right onto Barnum Road and trailhead parking is 0.4 mi.  Google address is 323 Barnum Rd., East Jewett NY, 12424. GPS Coordinates are 42.26399, -74.17666

Loop Hike from Mongaup Pond, December 17, 8:30 AM

This 10-mile hike, rated as difficult, will include sections of the Mongaup-Hardenburgh Trail, the Long Pond-Beaverkill Range Trail, and the Mongaup-Willowemoc Trail. The hike is expected to take six-to-eight hours. Participants must register by December 15. To register, contact Al Purdy at Albertpurdy1@aol.com or (845) 489-2332. The event is limited to 12 participants. Dogs are not permitted on this hike. Participants need to bring lunch/ snacks, bright winter clothes/ layers, sturdy hiking boots, spikes, poles, gaiters, snowshoes, and head lamp. Though this is a trailed route, the hike may involve some route finding. Continue reading

First Day Hike to West Kill Mountain, January 1, 2024, 9:00 AM

Join CMC for a seven-mile round-trip hike to West Kill Mountain from Diamond Notch. In partnership with NYSDEC we continue the tradition of welcoming the new year with a Catskill Mountain hike. This challenging trail route will take us to the summit of West Kill (3880’) and the nearby lookout points. With an elevation gain of 1785 feet, this hike is rated as difficult and is expected to take five-to-six hours. Participants should be prepared for wintery trail conditions and bring microspikes and snowshoes, as applicable. Hikers should be experienced in cold weather mountain outings and will need to bring proper gear and supplies, including layered and extra clothing, sturdy warm boots, gaiters, sunglasses, as well as food/ snacks, and water/ beverage/ thermos. We will pause at Buck Ridge Lookout for lunch.

The hike is limited to 12 participants and registration is required. Please register by December 30 by contacting Peter@catskillmountainclub.org or (607) 832-4413. Extreme weather or trail conditions will cancel. Dogs are not permitted on this hike.

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Catskill Visitor Center now renting hiking traction aids

Safety First: Catskill Visitor Center is Renting Crampons

Winter hiking in the Catskills requires preparedness. While the ground outside your door may seem fine for regular hiking footwear, the trails could tell a different story. You can buy or rent crampons from the Catskills Visitor Center.

CVC winter hours (Dec – March) / Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon / 9:30am – 4pm

Smith Pond Trail Temporarily Closed

 

The Smith Pond Trail is closed until further notice. Due to a construction project that will address drainage issues near Rte. 28, the trailhead to the Smith Pond Trail is being used as a staging area.  As soon as the work allows, the trail will be reopened.  For those who are working on the CMC Hiking Trails Challenge, the requirement to hike the Smith Pond Trail is temporarily suspended. You may submit applications without hiking this trail. After we announce its reopening, It will be required hiking again for new applicants. Thanks for your cooperation.

Welcome to the Catskill Mountain Club

Looking up Kaaterskill Clove fr. Palenville Overlook w/ Indian Head in foreground.

 

Founded in 2004, the year of the 100th Anniversary of the Catskill Park, the CMC has dedicated itself to providing a broad range of non-motorized outdoor recreational activities to its members, to residents and to visitors in the Catskills. Whether you hike, camp, kayak, canoe, snowshoe, ski, or cycle, the CMC offers activities to meet your interests.

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Groomed Cross Country Trails at Delhi Golf Course

The enjoyment of classic cross-country skiing is greatly enhanced by skiing on a groomed surface. These conditions are made possible by proper grooming equipment to prepare the snow. Fortunately, SUNY Delhi College has acquired a specialized utility vehicle with snow treads and a classic track setter. The result is a quality trail system at the college’s Golf Course, which is open to the public at no cost. David DeForest, Assistant Professor in Applied Sciences, is the leading force in maintaining the trails each winter. The trails begin at the Bluestone Pub and Restaurant at the foot of Scotch Mountain Road (off Arbor Hill Road). There are about four miles of trails with easy and intermediate loops. They are situated in a peaceful setting that includes two crossings of the Little Delaware River and great views of Bell Hill. Complete grooming of the trail system takes about three hours, while re-grooming is also conducted to keep the surface and tracks clean and firm. This promotes the skiing experience because the recessed tracks allow the skier to look around, enjoy the scenery, and maintain good form, instead of trudging through snow.

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High Use Issues Have Been Rising in the Catskills

April 18, 2021     Usage of the Catskill Park and its facilities has grown tremendously for the past several years.  During the pandemic of 2020-21, the growth only increased as folks everywhere turned to the great outdoors for a safe space to seek recreation.  As the pandemic winds down, we anticipate a sustained increase in Park visitorship and in use of our trails, other infrastructure and wild places throughout the Catskills.

The rise in usage has resulted in crowded parking lots, illegal roadside parking and an exponential increase in garbage being left behind by park visitors at high use areas like Kaaterskill Falls, Kaaterskill Clove and Colgate Lake.  To help mitigate these problems, parking regulations have been expanded and strictly enforced. Dozens of volunteers have been helping park staff and trail stewards clean up after the heavy traffic of weekend visits.  Please be responsible and pack out what you pack into these beautiful natural environments.

Another effect of increased usage is seen on the trails themselves. Foot beds are widening far beyond the acceptable width, trampling adjacent plant life and contributing to erosion. Hikers should stay on the trail, avoid walking side-by-side and pass other hikers carefully, yielding where possible and maintaining single file at all times.  It is up to us to protect the Catskills wilderness and preserve it for future generations. To do so, it is important that we cooperate in practicing sustainable use that benefits us all.

Always follow Leave No Trace principles when recreating in conserved natural places wherever you go.

How to hike safely now

There’s danger out in nature too – ticks are serious business …read more

 

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