Eagle and Haynes Mountains, Catskills

October 27, 2013

Distance: 8 miles
Time: 4 hours 50 minutes
Map: Catskill Trails Map Set
Parking: See directions link
Restrooms: None. Plus the start of the trail is near a stream, so not an appropriate place.
Notes: Catskill 3500 footer #26
Post hike dinner: Luna 61, Tivoli, NY (1 1/4 hours away). Good food, but it took them 40 minutes to prepare.
Directions: Eagle and Haynes Mountains

Notes:
This hike has no views. Still a nice hike. We saw 5 other hikers + 2 dogs today.
We heard a lot of gunshots near the trailhead, that were very close. 
It was rather disturbing, since deer shotgun season hasn't started yet.
I'm hoping it was just someone doing target practice in their yard near the trailhead.
There are lots of stream crossings in the beginning of the hike - the dogs loved it.

Year to date miles 340.2

Trailhead parking area

Trailhead

The trail starts out following red blazes.

Trek hates bridges. He's worried about his feet falling through.

Turn right and follow the blue blazes - Haynes mountain is on the way to Eagle mountain.

Eagle mountain summit - it is off of an unmarked side trail from the main trail, but it is easy to spot.

View of Haynes, as we descend Eagle.

Big Indian, Catskills

October 26, 2013

Distance: 9 miles
Time: 5 hours 45 minutes
Map: Catskill Trails Map Set
Parking: See directions link
Restrooms: None
Notes: Catskill 3500 footer #25, bushwhack
Post hike dinner: Karma Cafe, New Paltz (about an hour away)
Directions: Big Indian

Notes:
We saw a bear cub cross the road on our drive to the trailhead. It was fast, so we didn't get a photo.
We also saw a flock of around 30 turkeys on our hike.
This hike is long, but moderate. There are actually some sections which are flat!
Most of this hike is on a trail, with a short bushwhack (herd path) at the end.
The herd path is past the 3500 footer sign.
The herd path was easy to find. Our dog found it for us :)
Even though it is supposed to be a well worn path, it was a little hard to see with all of the leaves.
Never fear - our dog led us all the way up the mountain and stopped at the canister!

Year to date miles 332.2

Sign for parking area

The trail starts across the street from the parking area

This hike has a lot of stream crossings.
The water was low, so none of them were difficult.

Passing the lean to at 2.05 miles

Continue past the 3500 footer sign.

The start of the herd path is to the right of this tree

Signing in at the summit

First snow we've seen this year

The level portion of this hike - easy except for the leaf covered rocks that I kept tripping over.

Mt Holyoke, Skinner State Park

October 20, 2013
Distance: 2.1 miles
Time: 1 hour 18 minutes

Map: Massachusetts Trail Guide (The book comes with a map which includes this area. Unfortunately the map is on thin fragile paper, but I haven't found better quality MA maps). I also picked up a DCR map at the trailhead - also available online Skinner State Park - the one printed by the park is on thicker paper than the AMC map.

Parking: See Skinner State Park. I drove up Route 47 northbound. I drove past the first sign for Mountain Road (on right). Turn right at the second sign (there is also a sign for the park there) for Mountain Road on the right. Before the road ends at a T intersection (to the left is the park road to the summit, which gets gated shut in the evening, to the right is Mountain Road which is one way going the wrong direction), there is a small parking area. However, since the parking area maybe allows 10 cars or so, everyone just parks on the road before the parking area, and walks up to the intersection of Mountain Road & the park road.

Restrooms: Portapotties at summit parking area 
Post hike dinner: n/a

Directions: There is a trail kiosk in the parking area. Pick up a map there if one is available. A trail starts near the parking area, to the left of the park road. It is called the Two Forest trail (marked on the map as TF), and is yellow blazed. There is a sign with the trail name near the beginning of the trail. Follow the trail which parallels the park road (which is to your right). Keep track of the blazes, as sometimes there are woods roads which aren't blazed and aren't your trail. I got confused a bit at first.The yellow trail joins the blue blazed Devil's Football trail at a large rock. Can't miss the rock. At this point, follow the blue blazed trail, which is more steep than the yellow blazed trail. The blue blazed trail crosses the park road, and continues up some steps on the opposite side of the road. It continues up more steeply. It joins the white blazed M-M trail close to the summit. At the summit is a building (closed off), and a view. Return the way you came.

Notes: This is a very popular hike. Many people just walk up the park road. But, there were still plenty of people on the trail as well. There were a LOT of dogs on this hike. I suggest only bringing very well mannered dogs. Many dogs were off leash, with no owner control, so we had a lot of dogs running up to my dog (who really, really hates this). There were a lot of non-hikers hiking. E.g. men hiking in loafers, people out to walk their dogs, etc.

Devil's Football

Intersection of Two Forest and Devil's Football trails.

The park road closes at 4pm (gates to upper parking lot locked).
However, there is parking as described above, outside the gates.

Long Mountain, Amherst, MA

October 20, 2013
Distance: 4.3 miles
Time: 2 hours 17 minutes

Map: Massachusetts Trail Guide (The book comes with a map which includes this area. Unfortunately the map is on thin fragile paper, but I haven't found better quality MA maps). This isn't the route described, but this shows the trail - Long Mountain

Parking: Harris Mountain Road, Amherst, MA. The Metacomet-Monadnock trail crosses the road. There is parking on both sides of the road (room for around 10 cars total). This is a less used parking area for sure, compared to the very crowded Notch Visitor Center. Fewer hikers as well.

Restrooms: None
Post hike dinner: n/a

Directions: On each side of the road there is a sign/map showing the portion of the trail. You will want to head down the trail on the west side of the road (the map will show Long Mountain if you are on the correct side of the road). The M-M trail is white blazed. The trail sometimes ascends and descends. I didn't find a summit marker. There wasn't a view from what I perceived to be the summit, but just past the summit, there is a view of Mt Norwottuck. Continue going downhill. On the left there will be a red blazed trail (called the Link Trail). Turn left onto it. It isn't well blazed at all, however, it is a pretty obvious wide trail. Eventually it dead ends at a woods road where you can go left (private) or right. Turn right - this is the Hollow Trail. I didn't notice any blazes at all on this trail, but it is easy to follow. When it ends, turn right on the white blazed M-M trail, continue back up to Long Mountain and the parking area.

Notes: This is a less crowded hike than others in this area. We met a few hikers on the M-M trail. No hikers on the Link & Hollow trails.It looks like there is a small pond off of the Link Trail, but really I wasn't sure if I saw it. Maybe it was filled in with grass.

Parking area

Trailhead

Leaves everywhere.

Just past the summit of Long Mountain is a view of Mt Norwottuck to the west.

Blazes for the turn onto the Link trail.

No one on this trail - so time to run!

Not sure I got the photo order correct, but there is a numbered tree where the Link trail ends at the woods road.
Turn right onto the woods road.

At the end of the Hollow Trail, there is a marker again.
Turn right onto the white blazed M-M trail.

Sugarloaf Mountain (south summit)

October 20, 2013
Distance: 0.8 miles
Time: 0.75 hours 

Map: Mt. Sugarloaf State Reservation 

Parking: Sugarloaf Street, near the intersection with 116 in South Deerfield, MA. Room for around 25 cars. It was packed when I went on a Sunday. You can also drive to the summit if you prefer not to hike.

Restrooms: At the summit
Post hike dinner: n/a

Directions: From the parking area, head towards the kiosk, where you can hopefully get a copy of the DCR map. Turn right, and cross the road that goes up to the summit. Look for the sign for Pocumtuck Trail. Then just follow the dirt trail up. There is an observation tower at the summit. You can take dogs up the first level, but not up to the second level.

Notes: This is a very popular hiking area. Expect to be hiking along with many other people. The trail is short but steep. It is mostly a hard dirt trail.

Kiosk in parking area

Sign for trail. You just head up, follow the crowd :)

On the summit, there is a chain link fence between the trail and the road. There is a wire rope fence that you squeeze through (I needed to take off my backpack) to get off the trail onto the road.

Observation tower. There was a group of musicians playing at the base of the  tower.
Trek and I sat down on the grass and listened, enjoying the beautiful weather.

View from the grassy summit area (dog's eye view - more of a view if you stand up)