OK. A little late, but anyway.....
Ispoiler and i drove up from NJ on friday night to the Woodland Valley Parking Area in the Southern Catskills to attempt the 15mile traverse of Wittenberg, Cornell, and Slide mouintain- then back to the car.
We arrived around 9:30pm friday night and found a nice spot up on a ridge to pitch the tent...campground was closed. We then lit the camp candle ad relaxed w/ some Victory Hop Devil beer...until it started to rain. Once we got into the tent it stopped, but we decided to finish the 8 beers a peice instead of going back outside.....side note: We are not smart. 15mile traverse and 8 beers the night before is not a good idea, we know. But we ae professionals and who would want that beer to get warm?
Anyway...We woke up around 8:30 after sleeping through the alarm and packed up, ate, and ditched the gear in the car as we departed around 9:27.
As we ascended, the sun was breaking a little and illuminating the little bit of fall color left. Well this didnt last long at all. It clouded up and stayed cloudy the rest of the day....
Regardless, we met some nice people up on wittenberg and ate. Ispoiler and i then left and heasded for cornell, which we went right over thesummit and didnt even notice. But this was very cool as the forest was constantly changing. A few scrambles up some cliffs later and we were on Slide. Still no view, but it must be beautiful! On top of slide, we met an older German couple that was doing the same hike. They showed us a little short cut on our map that would save us at least 2miles and about 1500vertical.
After desending Slide, we hooked up with the short cut and traversed around the backside of the ridge that would eventually climb through the saddle and back to the car. We eventually dropped down into the parking lot and celebrated with some junk food! Another side note....There was some amazing glades most of the whole trip. There will definately be some winter trips up there! I wish we had some pix, but Ispoiler is lazy and hasnt put them up yet
Moving on....Exhasuted, we drove up to Hunter to Meet up w/ DMC at tequilas for the Halloween party. We grabbed some amazing Mexican in Tannersville and then hit Tequilas for a roockin good time...DMC's band was SOOOO tight and the crowd was great. Met some cool people and stoked up the comming winter with stories of past till 4am or so.
Crashed at DMC's, had some coffee in the morn and set out south to the Shawgunk mountains. Drove around, did some hiking, and a little bouldering. Beautiful day and beautiful burritos in New Paltz.
Great weekend. Great meeting DMC, His Fiance Alexa, and freinds. Thanks for the beds D!
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