Fall
Hike reports listed below are from hikes completed in the fall.
Little Ashokan
The bushwhack to Little Ashokan is one of the steeper and sketchier routes I’ve hiked in the Catskills: craggy ledges, loose dirt and rocks, lots of blowdown. But the summit is magical, and the view it affords it is startlingly beautiful.
Backcountry Campout in the Catskills — First Experience
Having never camped out before, and certainly never in the backcountry, I researched for weeks, pulled the necessary kit together, and finally screwed up enough courage to solo camp overnight in the wilderness.
Peakbagging the Catskill 3500 High Peaks (Ultimate Guide)
The most efficient way to climb the Catskills High Peaks is to do as many of them in groups as possible. These lists of pairs and triplets combine the Catskills in their most common groupings. Minimize your travel. Maximize your peak-bagging!
Winter Gear: Neck Gaiter / Buff
Sometimes small tweaks yield big benefits, and that’s exactly what wearing a neck gaiter does.
The 3 Best Ways to Not Die on a Hike
Every month, people get into trouble in the Catskills, almost always because they are under-prepared. Here are the 3 best things you can do to stay safe on your hike, while making sure you’re prepared in the event of an emergency.
Backpack Basics
Your backpack is a fundamental and very personal choice. There are lots of excellent brands to choose from. Here’s the skinny.
Basic Mountain Hiking Gear
While hiking gear can change from trail to trail, and from season to season, the following items will serve you well on every hike. They are a fleshing out of The Ten Essentials (the absolute bare minimum you should pack for every hike). This hiking gear list focuses on day-hiking.
Windham High Peak via Burnt Knob (with Acra Point)
Hike to Windham High peak through beautiful riparian terrain to a long ridge that’s peppered with amazing views.
Hike Balsam Cap in the Clouds
A direct line from Moonhaw takes you up the shortest possible route to Balsam Cap but be warned: the way is steep. This is a tough Catskill hike.
Rusk & East Rusk
The very steep bushwhack up the south side of Rusk is never a ton of fun. But Rusk’s summit is lovely and, if you hike over to East Rusk, your day just gets lovelier.
West Kill via St. Anne’s Peak
A long, strenuous hike over a massive Devil’s Path mountain that includes a variety of Catskills terrain and an epic view from Buck Ridge Lookout.
Rusk: First Bushwhack
Like me, if you’ve never been on a bushwhack hike—a hike without a trail—the thought of wandering into the woods with zero guide-rails seems completely intimidating. The best thing to do, here, is to join a group hike, or hook up an experienced pal who can show you the ropes.
