MikekiM and I hiked this classic Catskills loop this week, making it a 2-nighter by camping (hammock, of course!) on the saddle between Cornell and Slide Mtn the first night and at Giant Ledge the second night.
We got off to a lazy start Wed morning by first stopping at Brio's in Phoenicia for a great breakfast and then made the short drive to Woodland Valley trailhead. The total distance of the loop (plus Giant) was only 20 miles, but if you hike it you'll see that it's more about the elevation and taking in the eye-popping views than rushing-and-crushing. Plus, there are many sections of very rough trails and quite a few rock scrambles that can really force one to slow down and ponder the situation. There are a few pieces of easy treadway, but after a couple of episodes of being lulled into complacency you learn that the smooth bits are the exceptions and to enjoy them while you can.
We got lucky on the weather. First day was a bit humid but not too hot, and we manage to dodge all but a small sprinkle in the afternoon while small thunder shower cells were popping all around us. At our Cornell camp, a couple of lightning bolts struck *very* close to our camp — certainly within about 150ft — and we were starting to get a bit concerned. But I'm here to tell the tale so we fortunate they didn't strike any closer. Day two weather was spectacular with much drier air and gloriously cool temperatures, and our second morning featured perfect weather for a sunrise... just enough clouds to add some interest as we enjoyed our coffee while watching a perfect sunrise from one of the more spectacular venues in the Northeast.
The (rocky!) hike out took less than two hours, and we went back to Brio's in Phoenicia for some well-deserved lunches.
Our route:
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At the Woodland Valley trailhead:
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On the way up... typical trail!
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A welcome break from the rocks!
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And then... more rocks!
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.... and then roots.
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But it's all worth it to reach the top of Wittenberg!
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And it's a fairly short hop over to Cornell Mtn... but a little surprise waits just before the summit... the Cornell Crack. It was MikekiM's first time and he made it with no problems.
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We camped in the saddle between Cornell and Slide, and the next morning set out for the top of Slide Mtn. Not far from the summit is a fantastic little spring that produces some of the clearest, coldest water. What a welcome treat on a really hot day, and a great view to boot!
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The summit is a short distance above the spring, after a couple of sets of stairs/ladders and a couple more rock scrambles.
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The first thing one sees upon arrival, the famous Burroughs plaque...
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And then the summit! The views aren't as great as they are from Wittenberg, but it has that feel of a very special spot on top of the Catskills!
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We decided to descend via the Curtis Ormsbee trail, which features a big split rock formation... and of course more rocky trails!
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(I hope these upload correctly and are visible!)
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Many sections of trail like this... very typical of most in the area. Admittedly, not a pleasant stroll at times, and constant attention is required!
Originally Posted by rhjanes
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