Blackhead

Catskills, NY USA

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The weather forecast looked favorable for Saturday, with mild temperatures and little wind. The outlook would sour for Sunday. Cold windy weather with temps in the single digits would put me off a Sunday hike day. While snow on Saturday morning began to retreat from the weather report, strong winds would now arrive early on Saturday afternoon. It seemed whenever I picked a weekend for hiking in New York, nasty weather would encroach on my plan requiring a hasty exit.

Early to Rise

It’s usually a three to four hour drive to get to the mountains, and with the approaching stormy weather, I needed an early start. Pre-packed, I rolled out at 4:30am bound for New York. A stop for fuel, and a bottle of water put me at the trail head at four hours even. The road into the parking area was a mess. A solid sheet of packed snow that was now slick ice. Unable to get into the elevated parking of the lot, I found a spot just off the roadway. I was more concerned with navigating my exit on the icy road than the hike. I planned an out and back via the Black Dome Range Trail, with an estimated round trip of a little over five miles. Even with the steep sections, which didn’t look bad on the hike, I’d be able to crank out a five miler in about three hours. If I decided to nab Black Dome it would cost me another mile round trip, so I expected to reach the car by noon.

On the Trail

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I spiked up at the car, just to make sure I didn’t break my leg on the icy road even before reaching the trail. The trail itself was clearly marked with Red Blazes, and though very icy, my traction did it’s job and I was making good time. At a mile and a quarter, the elevation began to bump up and I could see Blackhead through the bare trees. I had been following in the footsteps of another hiker, but mother nature and strong winds had enforced Leave No Trace principles on the path. The trail was now just a faint windblown scar slithering towards the summit. The snow was beginning to melt, and get sticky and greasy. It balled up in my spikes. I pulled them off and continued. At two miles I was pushing up the steeps to the top. I turned and looking over my shoulder. Black Dome looked ominous in the quickening wind.

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I was presented with a few nice views before reaching the ridge. The snow was frozen again and I considered putting on the spikes. I figured if I could make it up the last slope, I’d just tough it out.

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Using my poles and careful footwork, I scrambled a bit and secured the ridge. I was greeted with a leisurely and relaxing walk thought a stand of Balsam Fir, and finally reached the top.

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The summit is nothing to write home about. The sky began to go grey as lead as darker clouds began to arrive, and the wind freshened. I could go back the way I’d come or hike a loop from a junction here at the top. If I backtracked for Black Dome, I still needed Thomas Cole on the same ridge and I didn’t have time for both. I decided to return another day for them.

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I then continued on the junction down the Long Path trail to link up with Batavia Kill Trail. Long Path is blazed yellow.

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The Long Path was steeper than my approach trail, and I soon needed to put on spikes. After the trail leveled out, I arrived at the Batavia Kill shelter, dropped my pack and removed my traction.

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After a swig of water, I was off at full boogie.

Batavia Kill Trail

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This trail blazed in blue,was softer in places and there were great sheets of ice that I needed to detour around. I could hear water underneath, rushing off the mountain. I passed a few hikers heading up, and was soon back on Black Dome Range, blazed red.

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Upon reaching the footbridges spanning Batavia Kill, I knew I was close to home.

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It was just a short, icy trip to the car, and I crawled down the road in low gear, reaching the clean roadway in short order. I tossed everything in the back and headed back to the highway. Soon a snow squall enveloped the car and I drove in a swirling snow globe. I smiled, glad I’d save the other two mountain for the next trip.