Devils Path Day 3

May 24, 2014
Devils Path Middle section - Plateau mountain (3840) & part  of Hunter mountain (3750)
Mink Hollow Shelter - 9.5 miles - End of Spruceton Rd


Again I had a hard time sleeping, I woke up at 1am thinking it must be close to morning. Everyone at the shelter was woken at 5am. I nice woodpecker thought it would fun to peck on the metal roof of the privy. It was the loudest thing you every heard and they it would leave the privy to peck on some other surface. This pecking when on for what seemed hours. My 6:30 I was done with breakfast and ready to go. We left camp at about 8:00am.

So what happens on the Devils Path after leaving camp another long climb in 1.05 miles to Plateau mountain (3840). This was the most difficult climb of the 3 days as I climbed I was just thinking one more step, just one more step. The reward for the climb was a great view.

The next part of the hike was 1.7 miles of pine forest. I really enjoy flat...... and some great views

And now downhill again 1500 ft to a nice park with a lake where we had lunch. The devil then kicked us again, after lunch, with a 2.1 mile climb up Hunter mountain. I was really tired at this point just wanted to finish the day and go home. It seemed like the rest of the group was far ahead. Miriam and I hiked together and we set a nice slow pace taking short break to catch our breath. She told me that the Devil Path was much more difficult then hiking in the Alps. Mariam decided not to continue the third day and asked if I could take her to a bus station . I  told her I could drive her to Suffern, NY, just 3 miles from my house where she could catch a bus back to NYC.

We finally caught up with the group at the Devils Acre Shelter. Miriam told the group she decided not to continue and would be heading out with me. The only issue was she had her day pack in Maria's car at the start of the trail. After a quick discussion we had Maria's keys and we would hide them on the roof of Alex's SUV. Mariam and I decided this would be a good place to separate from the group and we would do the last 2.2 miles to the car on our own. We said our goodbyes and I took nice picture of the group.

We rested about 5 minutes and made to final trek to the car.

I completed the Devils path

West Kill Mountain

After picking up Miriam's stuff we stopped for dinner at the Last Chance Restaurant in Tannersville, NY. After 3 hard days of hiking there nothing better than a large Hanger Steak with Mashed Potatoes.

I  really glad the I hiked the Devil path. I really enjoyed the challenge and I know the JMT will not be this difficult.

Devils Path Day 2

May 23, 2014
Devils Path Eastern 1/3-  Indian Head Mountain (3600) & Twin Mountain (3640) & Sugar Loft (3800)
Prediger Trail Head - 7.85 miles - Mink Hollow Shelter

I was pretty bored last night being by myself and fell asleep early around 8pm after listening to my audio book. I was awakened at 12:30 am with heavy rain. I did not have a good night sleep since I just kept on tossing and turning. I just could not get comfortable along with the sounds of the rain made it a  long night. Did say I hate my Exped Pillow Pump for inflating my Exped UL 7 pad.  It will be up for sale soon. I ordered a new down pillow from Feathered Friends which arrive next week.

I was up at 6am and knew I had time to kill before meeting the group at 8am. It is still raining so it was good experience doing camp chores in while raining. I was able to use my hiking kilt to keep me dry.  I as on the trail by 7:20 and waiting in the lot by 7:30,

The group 

Maria - leader

David - co-leader

Alex short for Alexandra

Jerry

Miriam

David & Emily

This is my 4th time hiking with Maria and second time hiking Alex. Every seemed very nice and were very friendly. We left 2 cars at the trail head and headed to the east end of the trail dropping one car for bailout. We started hiking around hiking around 9:30 and yes it is still raining

The first mile of the trail was relatively flat until the it intersected with the overlook trail. In the next mile and a quarter the trail went straight  up 1250 ft on a loose rocky and wet surface to Sherman's lookout. Like yesterday, there was large mud pits and stream/trails to walk in so it was slow going.

 

 Over the next mile the trail slowly rose 250 ft to Indian Head Mtn (3573) and then quickly down 500 ft in a half mile to Jimmy Dolan Notch. I have now learned the devils part of this trail, what goes up quickly must be followed by a quick descend. Once reaching the notch it is right back up to Twin Mountain (3650).

The longest .7 of the trail that seemed to take hours in the rain was the  most difficult and dangerous part of the hike. The trailed descended 900 feet and it felt more like bouldering to Pecoy Notch. So for every notch there is another climb. This time 1100 ft to Sugarloag Mtn (3800)

Our final decent of the day was to the Mink Hollow Shelter.  I forgot to take pictures. I still trying to get used to this blogging thing. One really neat thing was I met Syrus and Miki who is going to Summit Mt Whitney the same day as me. We will be meeting at Guitar Lake the night before the final climb.

My first day of hiking lead me to believe this was not going to be too difficult. Now I know why the trail was named.

Devils Path Day 1

May 23, 2014
Devils Path western 1/3 Westkill Mtn (3880ft) and St Anne's Peak (3420)
End of Spruceton rd - 7.2 Miles west

I left the house at 7am to start my hike of the devils path. I am hiking myself today and joining the AMC hiking group in the morning to complete the first two thirds of the trail. I could not join them for all three days of the scheduled hike since it is my father-in-law 80th birthday on Monday.

It rained last night and it looked like it was going to be a blah day. When I arrived at the trail head at about 9:30am and you can barely see the Mountain as it was overcast with the clouds so low. The forecast called for possible rain and thunder storms.

The trail started on a gravel road for .7 miles and then straight up 1600ft in 1.4 miles,  to West Kill mountain at 3880 ft. The trail was very wet and muddy making it slow going with plenty of mud pits.   The visibility at Buck Ridge lookout just before the peak was was near 0.  The next climb to ST. Anne's was only 400ft

I met just one group of hikers who spent the night out last night. They said there was large hail hitting their tent during the night.

I was trying to decide where to make camp for the night since there were no shelters on this section of the trail. I was getting nervous that would not find a dry spot as it seemed I was hiking in a swamp the last 1.5 miles.  I finally found a nice flat spot .5 miles from the trail head at around 4:00. This only my third time camping on my own and it is always a little creepy.

I was excited to try one of my dinners I made for the JMT as I made a few extras for this trip. I had Beef Broccoli and rice and it was really good. A lot better then anything you can buy.

My first day on the Devil path did not seem too hard and devilish. If the rest of the trail was like this, it is going to be easy.

Devils Path, Catskills State Park, NY

May 22, 2014


I am doing a training hike, The Devils Path, this weekend with a AMC hiking group. I have not packed yet so I will be busy tonight getting ready. The Devils path is considered the toughest day-hike in the Northeast–and possibly the Lower 48–this 24-mile classic, features 18,000 feet of elevation gain and loss according to Backpacker Magazine.

The Why

I read about the John Muir Trail, one of the finest hikes in the world, about 2 years ago and knew it was something I would have to do. I completed most of the planning right away and just needed when to go, who to go with and the understanding of my wife. I am starting my journey on June 26, 2014 with a friend and co-worker, Jerome Provensal, from the LA office. 


I have been asked by friends and family why?  I never had a good answer for "why", except for "Why Not". I found the answer this weekend when I was listening to WABC AM and the discussion was about living an ordinary life or striving for extraordinary moments.  So the answer to "Why", is I just need to have extraordinary moments.

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My Theme Song

Almost There (from Yosemite to Mt. Whitney) from The Muir Project on Vimeo.

Food was Shipped

May 21, 2014

I spent the last 3 weeks preparing food for my hike. I purchased a Deluxe Camp Kit  from Packit Gourmet that included all the basic vegetables and beans. I then dehydrated Potato bark, Chicken, Beef and Shrimp. I then prepared the menu  based on receipts for Recipes For Adventure.

 The Menu

• Spicy Shrimp Chowder
• Potatoes bark Vegi's with Chicken and Beef
• Spinach and Bean Raminara
• Ramen Noodles Chicken
• Beef & Broccoli
• Chicken Rice Caciatore
• Curry Chicken Rice
• Scrambled Eggs with Polenta with beef
• Oat Meal w/ Nut
• Tuna
• Chicken Salad (from packit gourmet)
• 
  

My Snacks