35 Peaks in 30 Days: Glossary

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...

Monday, October 18, 2010

Glossary

As I finally get around to writing thank you notes

for the retirement gifts that I received, I am going include a note explaining the delay due to my trip to the Catskill Mountains. I thought that while I was up there that I would have had plenty of time to complete them, not realizing that each day would end up consisting of: get up, drive to trail head, climb a mountain or two (or three), return to the cabin, eat, go to bed early, repeat...) Since I plan to include a link to this blog for anyone that is interested on that note, I thought that I might try to set the stage for any newcomers.

Some mountain terms are universal and understood almost anywhere, but there are some that are unique to the Catskill Mountains and Hudson Valley due to the original Dutch settlers of the area. The following terms are used by most all hikers in the Catskills and are repeated frequently in my posts:

Bushwhack - An off-trail hike, usually requiring a compass and m

ap. (or GPS)

Cairn - A pile of stones that marks a summit or the route.

Cannister - PVC container located on train-less

summits of Catskill Mountains more than 3500 feet in elevation containing a notepad ledger and pencils. (bushwhacks)

Col - A pass between adjacent peaks in a mountainous chain or a low spot in a ridge.

Clove - A narrow valley.

Herd Path - An unmarked, unmaintained path created by hikers or animals.

Hollow - A small valley.

Kill - A Dutch word for waterway, creek, or river.

Lean-to - A three sided shelter with an over-hanging roof for camping.

Logging road - A crude road used to haul logs after lumbering.

Notch - A narrow pass.

Summit - The top of a mountain.

Vly - Dutch word for swamp or marsh.

Woods road - An old unmaintained road or logging road.

Since the most recent posts appear first in the blog and work their way backwards to the early planning stages of the trip, I hope this may be helpful to those who may have just started reading.

35 Peaks in 30 Days