Catskill Hang 31 Mar- 1 Apr

[jerzybears]

Well, finally got a moment to post this trip report. Russ and I arrived at the trailhead to the Devil's Path at 10:30ish and proceded down the path. Snow fell the night before and there was around 3 inches of snow everywhere. About halfway down the trail we ran into VETO walking in the opposite direction He got a little turned around and was wondering where we were. He arrived at the trailhead the night before and put his hammock into a sweet hemlock grove.

We all walked to the hang sight and climbed above the Devil's Kitchen Lean-to to our hang sight. Nice, Nice, NICE!!! Plenty of trees, a brook not frozen over, and wood for the slate fireplace built by hikers from long ago.

After Veto, Russ and I set up, we set out for wood and I prepped the fireplace. I started a fire and lo and behold, here comes Knotty and JayS!!! We were so sure they bailed out with all the rain in NJ and the lower Hudson Valley. BUT HERE THEY WERE!!!! We were all delighted for the company.

Knotty and Jay set up and helped the guys hunt for more wood (cause there never is enough!) Russ and I were the only one's with a canister stove, but the temp was good enough and there was not a single problem. We all had a wonderful dinner, stood around the fire, ate dark chocolate and some mysterious alcohol that Knotty brought (delicious by the way!!!!) and talked about hangs gone by. I am convinced Russ and I have to take the plunge to Dolly Sods!!! Temps 32-34.

In the morning, Russ got up early to build a breakfast fire (kinda his thing) and we all had a nice breakfast. Hey, the water didn't free and neither did our boots!!!! Yayyyyy!!!!! Jay and Knotty were going to take a day hike before leaving the Catskills. Veto, Russ and I headed down the trail and out to the People's Republic of Woodstock for lunch and beer.

We all had a wonderful time and enjoyed having the Hammock Forum guys with us. Foot surgery tomorrow....

Next stop..MAHHA and a sherpa or two.

Thanks for looking.

[Charlie Brew]

Sounds awesome. Wish I could have made it. The 31 was my bday and it woulda been awesome to be in the woods but I'm still waiting for my UQ. Good luck with your surgery!

[Veto 65]

I had a great time too. That was just what the Doctor ordered, so to speak.
It was great to meet knotty and JayS.

The reaction I got when friends and family looked at the pictures was "You camped in the snow?". Nobody believes me when I told them I was warm.

[Fronkey]

Woohoo! Fun time in the woods with some good people. It's crazy to see snow in April. lol

Fronkey

[Knotty]

Reposting from the original invite thread:

Had a great time this weekend with JerzyBears, JayS and Veto65 at a campsite uphill from the Devil's Kitchen lean-to in the eastern Catskills, NY. We all arrived to a beautiful new blanket of snow about 3-4" deep. The campsite is just beautiful. Located along a stream and covered by evergreens. Lots of good conversation around the campfire and very comfortable temps. It was my first time meeting Veto65 and hope to be able to camp with him again sometime. Saturday held steady at 34ºF, the nighttime low was 32º and Sunday it was 35º. All with no wind.

Want to add that this was my first chance to try out IceSpikes while hiking. They provided a tremendous increase in traction. I actually installed them right at the trailhead after we arrived and saw the conditions. We brought a cordless drill for that purpose but it could have also been done by hand with the tool the company provides. In my Keen winter boots, the screws held well. There were 12 per boot and one was missing when we got back. In Jay's Merrill Ventilators we installed 8 per shoe and a good number had pulled out by end of trip. So, in the right shoe they do quite well and carrying a few extra screws and the install tool is a good practice.

Here's the HF photo album (unfortunately pics are in reverse order) and here's my Picasa Album, which also includes map tags.

This pic is a shout out to Water Monkey! There's more to NY than Harriman.


Best wishes for a speedy recovery from surgery JerzyBear.

[ofuros]

Enchanting hangout........makes me want to fly south for our winter,
and find some fluffy white snowscape of my own.
A crackling fire radiating heat & good company to swap tall tales with....heaven.

[G...Hawk]

Ah . . . snow camping, love it.

Looks like a beautiful, fun time.

We had our five days hiking on the AT in New Jersey, March 22 to 26.
Wonderful range of weather : hot to nicely cool. No rain during hiking.


G



.

[Knotty]

We missed you G but sounds like you had a nice hike too.