So I kind of left NJ late and to get to the Balsam Lake Mountain parking is like the longest drive from me almost 3 hours (1 of those on beaverkill rd alone). However I did get to the parking area by around 12:30. The river seemed to be swollen from the snowmelt, and the road is still in poor condition.
I got my gear on and headed up the trail. It seems that in this southwestern portion most of the snow is gone. Here is a shot from the road by the field in the beginning of the hike
At the intersection I contemplated going up BLM first, but decided to get to Graham and then see how the weather was holding out. The forecast was good but it just seemed like it was about to rain all day.
I took the blue trail which heads up into the col between the mountains. However it skirts a very steep portion of Balsam Lake mountain, and the trail has a steep drop off on the right, and seems to be eroding down the mountain at some parts.
Here's a picture facing straight down.
The trail started to become a large stream, and stayed like that until the private land
On the border a set of perfect rocks for a snack
The trail heads around the northern side of two small hills in between Balsam Lake Mtn. and Graham. This spot still had a bunch of snow. Some places it was still 2-3 feet deep, others it was just mud. Still it was wet and sloppy and I hadn't brought my snowshoes. I wore the crampons for traction, but was sinking deep in some places.
Some places there was snow everywhere but the trail
Other places there was snow only on the trail
My 39th climb
A bit of a view above the shrubs
Here is a shot of Balsam Lake Mountain, you can just barely see the firetower on top
I might have gone up there for the view, however even on top of Graham there was only 1 thing I could hear. The constant scratching and rumbling from the rivers in the valley below. They kind of echoed off the mountains and I could hear it when the wind died down. All I could think of was that 1 section of Beaverkill rd. that was only 1/2 there to begin with getting washed out, and I would have been stranded.
I ate my ham and cheese and got down off the mountain, and out of that valley!
