Has anyone ever bushwacked to

[Levi]

Has anyone ever bushwacked to Devils Path from PA at the end of
Diamond Notch Rd. in Lanesville ?? Leaving the PA using a compass bearing of
350deg, looks like you would follow a well defined ridge to the Devils Path
approx half mile east of the Westkill summit. I remember seeing this ridge
when I was at on top of Westskill in 2003. Was wondering how thick the
Balsum is on that ridge, or is it mostly hardwoods ?

[mike]

Not sure which route you are thinking of taking. But, if you are headed to the left of Hollow Tree Brook and east of the summit of Westkill Mtn, you can get up that way. Been done before. There are two ridge lines. The one closest to the Brook is the easier of the two. If I remember correctly the ridge on the left has some nasty ledges. Can't remember about the balsam.

If you go up Southwest Hunter (now called Leavitt's Peak), the balsam are incredibly thick. I would not recommend this route.

Going thru the pass is very easy.

The road up to the PA is pretty rough.

[mike]

I just did some checking on this route. There are balsam trees about 1/2 way up, and they are thick. The ridge on the left does have some pretty good ledges, and also has thick conifer trees.

I have also seen it bushwhacked from Broad St Hollow Road (just west of Phoenicia).

[Levi]

A compass bearing of 350deg from the end of Dianond Notch Rd.
would not take you in the direction of SW Hunter. It would
however take you up the ridge left of Hollow Tree Br.
"Nasty ledges" are not my specialty so maybe I'll try the ridge
to the right of the brook. Probably take the Blue DN trail approx
half mile then off trail onto this ridge and up to Devil's Path
and then to Buck Ridge Lookout. The bushwack from Broadstreet
Hollow Rd looks too long for me.....Levi

[Levi]

Hiked West Kill today: I took your advice and stayed away from the nasty ledges.
From the PA at end of Diamond Notch Rd we went up the blue DN trail and shortly past
the 1st bridge we headed off trail at a compass bearing of due north.
Quickly came apon an abanded logging road which was headed NNW then turned
to north. This was easy to follow.Then maybe a third of the way up it ended at
a large clearing on level ground. maybe an old logging camp location?
From there the bushwack got quite steep and in another half hour very
thick & dense. Had to traverse around several ledges just before the terrain
leveled off (nbd). Finally got to the trail (Devil"s Path) about 300' below the cave.
There was no view at the lookout as the fog was socked right in. Took the trail back
down to Diamond Notch Rd. Thanx........Levi

[mike]

Didn't know about the old logging road. But, it doesn't surprise me. There are some many logging roads and camps across the landscape there. It was heavily logged many years ago. Most people take the easy way up Westkill and then hike down one of the two ridge lines down to the PA. Glad it worked out good for you.

[Levi]

Yea, bushwacking up the ridge line was fun but not a lotta fun. Probably
wont use that route on future hikes to Westskill .
Thanx again......Levi