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| Windham High Peak from Escarpment Trailhead |
A few weeks back, K and I went up to the Catskill Park for a showshoe ascent of Windham High Peak. A preferred winter peak because of its long, gradual grade perfect for snowshoes, Windham High Peak is one of the Catskill 3,500 footers. Seemed like a good way to add another 3,500 peak to my list, and also give K a chance to try out a day-long jaunt on her showshoes.
Since it was Saturday in the Catskills, we knew that we had better hit the trail pretty early. We decided on the Elm Ridge Trail to the Escarpment Trail, and quickly learned that we were the first peak hikers of the morning. A recent snowfall gave us the added pleasure of breaking the trail in snowshoes.
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| Hudson Valley, from Windham High Peak Summit |
About 1/2 mile below the summit, though, we were overtaken by a party of 20 teenagers and their chaperones - traveling, of course, without snowshoes and post holing all over the pristine trail. Having no desire to join their raucous party on the summit, we turned around... forced to negotiate the awful, mangled trail on the descent.
That's the Catskills...
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| Blackhead, Black Dome, and Thomas Cole Mtn, from Windham |
A few weeks later, I decided to make a return visit and bag the peak once and for all. I arrived around 10:30 AM on a Friday and fortunately found the Escarpment Trail parking lot totally empty. I encountered two hikers near the shelter at the Elm Ridge trail connector, but otherwise had the entire trail - and a prized lunch spot on the summit with views of the Blackhead Range to the south - all to myself.
Peak: Windham High Peak
Elevation: 3,524
Distance: 6.4 miles, up and back
Conditions: Party Cloudy, 40 degrees F
