35 Peaks in 30 Days

With retirement quickly approaching, I needed to find something to challenge myself both physically and mentally. Since my first idea of a thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail was out of the question, (sleeping on the ground every night for six months is not a just a challenge, it's slightly suicidal) I decided to attempt to hike all 35 peaks in the New York Catskill Mountains that are over 3500 feet in elevation in 30 days.

The Catskill Mountain 3500 Club awards certificates and patches to those who make all these required climbs.


Almost immediately after retiring, I traveled to New York and did manage to make it to the top of 32 of those mountains in the first 30 days including signing in at 11 cannisters on trail-less summits.


I later continued the quest by coming back after only a month away and finished out the last three "in season" hikes. The unique part of this quest is that in a departure from the requirements of several other such "peak bagger" mountain clubs, you have to return once again and re-climb four select mountains during the winter season.


Three of those winter climbs have been done. Only one remains. It will be completed in December 2011, hopefully with my close family standing on the top of the last mountain with me.


If you happen on this blog and find any of it of interest to you, please understand that each post shows up as most recent first but, the story actually began back in September-2010. Please scroll back and feel free to look at all of it...




Friday, September 17, 2010



Day 3 - Today may be the only gift that I'll be given on this trip, because the parking area at the trailhead was already at 2700 feet. Much less climbing. Since there is a fire tower at the top of Balsam Lake Mountain, there was a fire road to the top of it. Since even old roads have to follow the path of least resistance it was an easier hike. Unfortunately, there was no need to waste energy climbing the tower, even though the views are supposed to be spectacular, a cold misty rain and dense fog would have kept me from seeing anything. This mountain was 3720 feet, my highest so far for this trip until I ventured off the beaten path for Graham Mountain...

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