Join Al Purdy for a round-trip hike that visits two lakes in the western Catskills. Beginning at Big Pond and then ascending the Touch-Me-Not Trail, this 6.5-mile outing (rated moderate-difficult) will then reach Little Pond on the Campground Trail. This hike is expected to take five hours, and participants need to bring lunch/ snacks, water/drink, as well as layers of winter clothing, microspikes, snowshoes, gaiters, and trekking poles. For those aspiring to do the Catskils All Trails Challenge, they will complete the Campground and Little Pond Trails and 1.6 miles of the Touch Me Not Trail. 

Participants must register for this hike which is limited to 12 people. To register, contact Al Purdy at Albertpurdy1@aol.com or (845) 489-2332 by February 21. Dogs are not permitted on this hike. Notes: severe weather will postpone the hike. Be prepared for winter trail and road conditions.

Directions

To reach Big Pond from Kingston, take NYS Thruway Exit 19 (Kingston) and turn right onto Route 28 for 46.3 miles. Turn left onto Route 30 for 8.2 miles. After crossing the Pepacton Reservoir, turn immediately left onto BWS Road 8 for 1.9 miles and then stay to the right, continuing up the Barkaboom Road for 5.4 miles. The parking area will be on the left at the far end and in front of Big Pond.

Big Pond can also be reached from Old Route 17. One mile west of Livingston Manor, turn right onto Beaverkill Road and continue for 10.8 miles. Turn left, cross the Beaverkill, and continue for .8 of a mile. The parking area is on the right.

GPS coordinates of meeting location: 42.04376 -74.72772

Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QEiijFyzXtyyVcE47