I started out on this whole quest a little over a year ago after retiring from a 29 year career in Law Enforcement. I really thought that this was the best ever conceived transition to retirement from the daily working world by traveling back up to the Catskills in September 2010 and climb a "bunch" of mountains. As I have explained previously in this blog and as any member or aspirant of the Catskill 3500 Club knows, completing all the requirements is no easy task. (If it was, it wouldn't be a challenge) So... after getting 32 of the 3500 ft. peaks in 28 days in September/October 2010, I returned and finished the last three warm season climbs a month later. My beautiful wife and I returned and did three of the four required winter climbs in early March 2011, leaving me one summit short of the goal. Only the calender prevents me from completing it as I wait for December 22nd 2011 to get here. Now... here it is October 2011. The "What was I thinking" title refers to the fact that after retiring I took on another job. One day you are climbing mountains, enjoying the freedom of retirement and then all of a sudden you are back to work. Don't get me wrong, it's a great job, (somewhat top-secret) but it is still along the same lines as what I used to do except now there are 60 to 80 hour work weeks.
So... to stop whining,
On October 7th, 2011, my 29 year old son Dave, who is currently a member of the Raleigh Police Department SWAT Team (as I was for 11 years) came back up to New York with me (where he was born) to add to his mountain totals.
On a couple of previous Escarpment Trail hikes, he had picked up Blackhead and Windham High Peak. We also did Hunter together a couple of years ago with both of our wives who made it up the Becker Hollow Trail which is the most difficult of all the approaches to that summit. (Much respect goes to Kailyn who was a very new mom at the time to my grandson Connor to make that steep climb) Dave and a couple of other Raleigh Police officers joined me back in 2010 for climbs of Westkill, Indian Head, Twin and Katterskill High Peak. So, with those required peaks under his belt, we traveled back up to the Catskills to hit a couple of more mountains for his resume and for me to drink one or two beers.
Balsam Lake Mountain (again) 10/08/2011
When you have already completed all of these climbs and you are repeating some to help your son get closer to his goal with the 3500 club, why not hit the easiest first? Balsam Lake Mountain is the one trail head that starts out at the highest elevation of all the high peaks. It was a good and quick climb. Dave did notice the turn that leads back to the un-maintained trail that takes you to Graham (which would have to wait for another day). At the top of Balsam Lake Mountain the fire tower was open and staffed by two dedicated 3500 Club members.
We climbed the tower, took pictures, and headed back down to the the truck. Eight mountains down for Dave and another second mountain for me and Sarge.
Sarge (my dog) had been to this summit before with me and we have climbed most of these mountains together but he has recently acquired an ACL issue that hampers his progress.
Unfortunately, our animal (best) friends age quicker than we do and as far as Sarge is concerned, it's starting to catch up with him.
That being said... he never gives up.
Sugar Loaf - 10-09-2011 (again)
Sugar Loaf - 10-09-2011 (again)
We started this day out heading toward a pre-planned climb of Plateau Mountain. I've done Plateau before, but Dave had not. We drove to the dead end of Mink Hollow Rd. in the Elk Park community towards what took us to a closed trail that I have used before. It is the easiest route to the "Devil's Path" and the shortest way to Plateau.
When we reached the "Col" between Plateau and Sugarloaf, I had to make the command decision (not all that important, just common sense actually) that Sarge had been to Plateau before but not to Sugarloaf. We made a last second decision to go left instead of a right and climbed Sugaloaf.
Sugarloaf is truly one of the more difficult climbs of the Catskill 3500's regardless of which side you come from. There was at least one point about half way up that I thought Sarge was about to give out and that he and I would have to to turn back and let Dave finish the mountain on his own, but Sarge does not have the phrase "give up" in his limited dog vocabulary.
We managed to make our way to the top, making this nine summits for Dave and 29 for Sarge although his back left leg "quivered" most of the way. Hopefully with a little rest, he will be able to make the last climb on Balsam this winter. Then he can retire as I should have last year.
Our trip this time brought us up on Columbus Day weekend, (a holiday in NY but not in NC) and we stayed once again in Phoenicia, but this time at the Phoenicia Lodge. It is a 50's style Motel, but the hosts, the cleanlinest, the location and the fire pit sealed the deal. Around the fire pit each night, we met new friends and tried to solve all the problems facing the world today. (that are truly all the Democrat's fault)
So... as I continue to help my family "peakbag" more summits, (Dave - 9, Sandy - 6, and Kailyn - 3) while I approach that last winter summit, I truly understand that there is something that keeps drawing me back to the Catskill Mountains whether I need to climb just one particular mountain or not.
It must be the "Wendigo."
At least I always have something to write about...
