Batavia Kill
Blackhead
By the lockwood gap
small coyote tracks
Blackdome behind us
Climb up the icy rocks
Through the pines
Summit Blackhead
larger size pics link- https://picasaweb.google.com/stelling.jon/Blackhead
Was the last day for the winter week off, so we decided to tackle Blackhead. We didn't want to take on the north slope, since only 2 of us had metal traction type gear. We left NJ at 7, and got to the trailhead by Big Hollow road by 9:30. We were the first ones there, and there was a light dusting of snow from the night before. I decided to bring the snowshoes, just in case since there could be snow during the day, and who knows how much.
It was cold and the sun stayed behind the two mountains for most of the trail up to the spring. We hit the switchbacks which were completely covered in ice. By the time we got to the lockwood gap, the sun was out but the wind was gusting. I found some small canine tracks or something on the trail near the col. We were the first people up, and there were no human tracks. So I doubt it was someone's dog this time. They were small, only about 2 inches long, but they were all over the place.
By the time we hit the climb up blackhead, the wind was gusting in and bringing huge snow clouds over East Jewitt and over by Windham. We could see what looked like a white-out blizzard, but above us was blue skies. The entire west face of Blackhead was covered with Ice. The really steep parts were really steep with ice. I tromped up with the crampons and had no problems. Others slipped a few times but nothing major.
Made the summit by 12 and decided to scope out the escarmpent viewpoint that's a few yards past the summit. The cloud had moved over the hudson valley and there wasn't much of a view to be had. We backtracked over blackhead summit, and back the way we came to the car.
I decided to stop at the Batavia kill for a while and get some long-exposure waterfall shots.
NJOY
