Escarpment Trail - Spring 2016 Hike
Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2015 11:24 am
Hi everyone,
Looking for a little advice regarding a 3-Day backpacking trip I'm planning to the Catskills next Spring. Yes, I realize that next Spring is a long way away, but what can I say - I like to plan!
My partner and I have never been to the Catskills before (we're from MetroWest Boston), but we've done a fair amount of hiking and backpacking in The White Mountains and Maine. We also did an overnight trip in the Taconics last Spring (South Taconic Trail), which we really enjoyed. We're looking for a moderately strenuous hike - we're in pretty good shape, but I like to keep our daily mileage under 10 miles, and I'm not really looking for the most difficult hike (Devil's Path, for instance).
After some internet research, I think I've come up with a pretty reasonable plan to hike part of The Escarpment Trail the weekend of April 29th. I think the last weekend in April is best for this trip. I absolutely want to try to avoid the black flies, which I know come out in the Spring. Last year, our Taconics trip was in early May had no black flies whatsoever, so if we stay around that time or earlier, I hope we'll be good. Also, the first weekend in May is Mother's Day, so we can't go that weekend (or all of our moms will be pissed off - and we have 4 of them!). And going the weekend after Mother's Day is pushing it for the black flies. I'm not worried about large amounts of snow on April 29th, because I think the Catskills are sufficiently South; and I'm not worried about it being too cold, because we can easily sleep down into 20-30 degree temps with our gear.
This is my idea for a ~19-mile trip over the course of 3 days:
-On Friday night after work, we would drive out to the Windham, NY area (~3 hours from our house), and stay the night in some cheap motel or Air BnB place. Normally I would just camp somewhere, but we'll be arriving quite late in the evening in an unfamiliar area, so I think I'd rather find somewhere to stay.
-On Saturday (Day 1) we would leave our car at the parking area at the end of Big Hollow Road, and take a taxi/shuttle service to the parking area on Schutt Road (this is not a loop hike, so we need to shuttle between points. Then we would hike ~7.5 miles on the Escarpment Trail, to the area called North Point, and stay the night somewhere around there.
-On Sunday (Day 2) we would hike ~7.8 miles on the Escarpment Trail to the lean-to at Batavia Kill, and stay the night there.
-On Monday (Day 3), we would hike ~3.6 miles back to the car (using the Escarpment Trail, and then a side trail called the Black Dome Range Trail). Then drive ~3 hours home, with the plan to be home no later than 3:00 PM to rest and relax before work on Tuesday.
Alternatively, I guess we could leave the car at Rt 23 on Day 1, and stay on The Escarpment Trail on Day 3. If we did that, we could say we hiked the entire Escarpment Trail; however, I think that way is 5 miles longer. Not sure if we want to hike an 8.6 mile day on Day 3, and still drive 3 hours home and everything. Might be pushing it.
My questions for you guys are:
1. Can anyone recommend a cheap and clean place to stay near Windham on that Friday night?
2. Camping on Day 1 @ North Point - I know that camping is not permitted in the North-South Lake area other than at the campground (which will not be open yet on this particular weekend). So, I figured we would be able to find someplace to camp near North Point. Has anyone stayed in that area? Ideally, we are looking for a tent-site and access to water, but the water might be negotiable if we plan ahead.
3. Is mud a huge concern on the Escarpment Trail in April?
4. Can anyone recommend a taxi/shuttle service to take us from Big Hollow Road to Schutt Road? I have seen some hikers on the internet mention Smiley's? Also, what would this cost approximately?
Thanks in advance for any help/advice/info you can provide!
Looking for a little advice regarding a 3-Day backpacking trip I'm planning to the Catskills next Spring. Yes, I realize that next Spring is a long way away, but what can I say - I like to plan!
My partner and I have never been to the Catskills before (we're from MetroWest Boston), but we've done a fair amount of hiking and backpacking in The White Mountains and Maine. We also did an overnight trip in the Taconics last Spring (South Taconic Trail), which we really enjoyed. We're looking for a moderately strenuous hike - we're in pretty good shape, but I like to keep our daily mileage under 10 miles, and I'm not really looking for the most difficult hike (Devil's Path, for instance).
After some internet research, I think I've come up with a pretty reasonable plan to hike part of The Escarpment Trail the weekend of April 29th. I think the last weekend in April is best for this trip. I absolutely want to try to avoid the black flies, which I know come out in the Spring. Last year, our Taconics trip was in early May had no black flies whatsoever, so if we stay around that time or earlier, I hope we'll be good. Also, the first weekend in May is Mother's Day, so we can't go that weekend (or all of our moms will be pissed off - and we have 4 of them!). And going the weekend after Mother's Day is pushing it for the black flies. I'm not worried about large amounts of snow on April 29th, because I think the Catskills are sufficiently South; and I'm not worried about it being too cold, because we can easily sleep down into 20-30 degree temps with our gear.
This is my idea for a ~19-mile trip over the course of 3 days:
-On Friday night after work, we would drive out to the Windham, NY area (~3 hours from our house), and stay the night in some cheap motel or Air BnB place. Normally I would just camp somewhere, but we'll be arriving quite late in the evening in an unfamiliar area, so I think I'd rather find somewhere to stay.
-On Saturday (Day 1) we would leave our car at the parking area at the end of Big Hollow Road, and take a taxi/shuttle service to the parking area on Schutt Road (this is not a loop hike, so we need to shuttle between points. Then we would hike ~7.5 miles on the Escarpment Trail, to the area called North Point, and stay the night somewhere around there.
-On Sunday (Day 2) we would hike ~7.8 miles on the Escarpment Trail to the lean-to at Batavia Kill, and stay the night there.
-On Monday (Day 3), we would hike ~3.6 miles back to the car (using the Escarpment Trail, and then a side trail called the Black Dome Range Trail). Then drive ~3 hours home, with the plan to be home no later than 3:00 PM to rest and relax before work on Tuesday.
Alternatively, I guess we could leave the car at Rt 23 on Day 1, and stay on The Escarpment Trail on Day 3. If we did that, we could say we hiked the entire Escarpment Trail; however, I think that way is 5 miles longer. Not sure if we want to hike an 8.6 mile day on Day 3, and still drive 3 hours home and everything. Might be pushing it.
My questions for you guys are:
1. Can anyone recommend a cheap and clean place to stay near Windham on that Friday night?
2. Camping on Day 1 @ North Point - I know that camping is not permitted in the North-South Lake area other than at the campground (which will not be open yet on this particular weekend). So, I figured we would be able to find someplace to camp near North Point. Has anyone stayed in that area? Ideally, we are looking for a tent-site and access to water, but the water might be negotiable if we plan ahead.
3. Is mud a huge concern on the Escarpment Trail in April?
4. Can anyone recommend a taxi/shuttle service to take us from Big Hollow Road to Schutt Road? I have seen some hikers on the internet mention Smiley's? Also, what would this cost approximately?
Thanks in advance for any help/advice/info you can provide!