Hike to Huckleberry Point

Hi Blog!

We just spent the weekend with our Albany relatives celebrating Passover. After two days of singing, eating, drinking and generally making merry, we were looking for a little outdoor time. Nothing too strenuous, just a chance to stretch our legs. After scouring the internet, we found a relatively easy hike just four miles from our campground.

But, you know what they say, "adventure happens when your plans go awry."

On Monday, April 9, 2018, we started up the road to the trailhead, only to find the road was closed for winter. We had to take an 18 mile detour! However, the detour took us right by Kaatterskill Falls. Not bad for a detour!

As soon as we arrived at the trailhead, Kathy signed us in at the trail register. With temperatures in the 40s, we were dressed to the max.

The first part of the trail followed an old woods road. This part of the trail is multi-use, so snowmobiles are permitted, but with all of the fallen trees, we never saw any evidence that snowmobiles used this trail.

With all the recent snowfall, it was not surprising that we found sections of the trail that were still snow covered.

The trail to Huckleberry Point is blazed, but there are a number of trail junctions that have to be navigated. Dave is just not sure which way to go.

There was a warning in one of the trail descriptions that mentioned a stream crossing. With all the recent rain and snow, we were worried that we might not be able to cross the stream without getting wet.

As luck would have it, a tree had fallen over the stream, right where we needed to cross. Sometimes, it is better to be lucky than smart!

Here Kathy carefully negotiates her way around the various limbs still attached to the fallen tree:

After spending the last several months in very flat parts of the country, we found it "refreshing" to climb over the various topo lines. Here, Dave stands atop a ubiquitous Catskill ledge.

As we reached our goal at Huckleberry Point, we were rewarded with some amazing views of the Hudson Valley.

Dave finds the most amazing places to have lunch!

While Kathy appreciates the views, she is more likely to relax a few feet further from edge of the ledge.

While the snow has melted from the point, there are still not many signs of Spring.

The hike up to the point was full of anticipation. On the way back down, we had more time for exploration. Here Kathy examines some of the mudstone slabs that were piled up next to a tree. Someone obviously mined the stone, but never got around to transporting it.

Our micro-spikes came in handy on our hike back to the trailhead, because much snow has melted and then re-frozen into hard, slippery ice.

The hike brought to mind one of our favorite poems:

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening 

by Robert Frost                               

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.