Peekamoose Mtn and Table Mtn, Part 3

I had a 2-day weekend this week, so I took it easy yesterday, (it rained), and went hiking today. There's a club called the "Catskill 3500 Club", and it's members must have hiked all 35 of the Catskill peaks higher than 3500 feet......and 4 of them must be in the winter. I figure I should do my best while I am here to earn membership into the club. Today we bagged 2 of the peaks, Peekamoose Mtn and Table Mtn. This hike ranked up there with Indianhead as one of my favorites. There weren't many views, but the hiking through the forest was amazing. There were many steep sections, again lots of mud, and a few incredible views. Not to mention, it was a GREAT day to be outside as temps were in the 70's and it was bright and sunny :). The trip was 8.6 miles, and I am ready to eat! This will be my last hike for 2 weeks, as I am solo doctor for the next 2 weeks, and I'll be spending next weekend in the city, (NYC), with Brandon and Dominique.

Peekamoose Mtn and Table Mtn, Part 2

Peekamoose Mtn and Table Mtn, Part 1

More pics from Millbrook

Read the previous post for the original post on the hike today.

The shot with the deer I just took from my back porch. I must say, I do really like living in this house! The other pics are just more from the hike today. If you look closely, you can see one of the buzzards in the second to last pic. That's all for now!

Mount Millbrook, Mohonk Preserve

Well, I had the day off today afterall! Headed up to the Mohonk Preserve again, this time to summit Millbrook Mountain. It was a great hike. Started off climbing straight up rock for the first 1/2 mile (the last picture is the trailhead). Then headed through the forest for much of the hike. It was a steep final climb to the top, but the views were great! The summit is a sheer cliff/dropoff with tons of vultures/buzzards flying by catching the wind currents....or maybe they were waiting for one of the dogs to take the wrong step......? Regardless, it was really neat sitting at the top watching these birds fly back and forth along the face of the ridge. They are gross looking, though. The second to last picture is a view of Mt Millbrook (the knob in the background). Beignet's new backpack finally arrived. While it fits him perfectly, it is quite small on me, unfortunately, so I may have to do a little jerry-riggin'. The second picture from the top is the best shot I got that shows the all the buzzards.

No Adirondacks for me this weekend as I had planned. I am hoping to do a big hike in the Catskills Saturday and go to the Dutchess County Fair on Sunday. I am a solo vet starting monday for the next 2 weeks, hence the weekend off :).

Mohonk Preserve

So, not too exciting of a hike today, although it was nice and peaceful. I got off to a late start, and it was already 90 degrees and 10000000% humidity. It was a flat trail just outside of New Paltz, which is an adorable little town....very Boulder-ish....I'll go back to explore without the dogs. The trail was in Mohonk Reserve. Anyway, so I didn't get much of a workout on this flat trail, but it will make an excellent running trail in the fall when the leaves are changing. No, Beignet couldn't hack this one either. Well, he could walk it, but I would still be out there. I ordered a dog carrier backpack which will hold him much more comfortably than my previously rigged back pack. Couple of cool things happened this week............I performed my first spinal tap...on a cat nonetheless. Also, for the first time in his life JC did not chase deer...there were 3 of them within 50 feet of my back porch when I let the dogs out to pee in the morning. He started to chase them, but then just quit. I was very, very happy.....maybe he has finally learned that he will NEVER catch them?

The last weekend of August, I am hopefully heading to the Adirondacks for my first real weekend off........promise of great pictures to come. I work next Wednesday, so no hiking adventures then., but I'll make up for it :).

Pics from Breakneck Ridge

Indianhead Mountain and Breakneck Ridge

I try to go hiking every Wednesday on my day off. So far so good for the last 5 weeks. Last week I went up Indianhead Mountain, one of the tallest mountains in the Catskills. It's been my favorite hike so far.....very strenuous, very green, lots of rock scrambling, and tons of mud! It is one I will take friends up when/if they come visit. Today I hiked Breakneck Ridge. Last night I was searching online for a hike to do today and I came across the "Top 100 Hikes in America" on trails.com. Well, Breakneck Ridge was #1, and since it was only a 30 mile drive for me, I decided I should check it out. The trail was described as the steepest in the area, and the trip distance was 5 miles. I packed 1 water bottle, an orange and an apple. Well, for some reason I was out there for 4 hours, and I know I wasn't going that slow! I saw a blog about this trail last night and this guy said the hike was 9.75 miles. I think I somehow ended up on his route. Needless to say, I was beat from all the climbing, soaking wet from sweat (must have been 100% humidity today), and hungry as all heck (my apple was rotten). So hungry that I HAD to stop at MacDonalds for fries and a milkshake on the way home. The hike was good, but not #1 in my book.