Mountain Top Historical Society Hikes 2006  Route 23A from Palenville to Haines Falls is closed. It is expected to re-open by November 1st. NY State gives current roadwork information at http://www.dot.state.ny.us/roads/rc1.html This hike schedule is subject to change. Call or check web site prior to hike. Permission is granted to newspapers, magazines etc. to excerpt or publish this schedule.  Please ALWAYS include reference to this web site and notice that the schedule is SUBJECT TO CHANGE.  Notification of schedule changes including cancellation due to weather will be made here up to the day of any given hike.

Links to: Topo Maps  Meeting places

April 22 -   Overlook Mountain and Echo Lake.  An old carriage road, stone quarries, ruins of the Overlook Mountain House and numerous 19th Century points of interest have made this hike a favorite.  (Overlook is also noted for rattlesnakes)  Seven miles 1200 ft climb.  Moderate to difficult.  Meet at St. Francis deSales Church, Elka Park. at 9:00 AM  return at 5 PM.  We plan to make this a one way trip by leaving cars at Meads.  Give Bob or Larry a call if you are able to leave your car there or transport some of  us back to St. Francis deSales.  Rain is set to start around our meeting time. Lighter in the AM, but heavy late afternoon with as much as 2 inches in total by Sunday on the eastern slopes of the Catskills.  

May 13-  Windham High Peak. Beautiful views of Hudson Valley. We will return by way of Burnt Knob with its views of the Big Hollow Valley. Vertical rise: 2000 ft. Distance: 7 miles. Meet Parking Area Rt. 23 East Windham 9:00 AM. return 5:00 PM Moderate to difficult. Canceled. Perhaps we can reschedule.  Watch here and email if you want notification.

June 3  -  - Luncheon at Mohonk Mountain House. Our members have fallen in love with this truly unique resort. This will be our eleventh visit. Contact us for information on cost and payment dates for the luncheon at the Mountain House.  You may also wish to visit Mohonk's Web Site.  Easy. 9:00 AM. return 5:00 P.M.  

June 17 - Kaaterskill High Peak   Rained out! High Peak offers views north to the Blackhead Range and South to Platt Clove and the Hudson Valley.   Meeting place: St. Francis deSales Church Elka Park .  9:00 AM. return 5:00 P.M. Vertical Rise: 1700 ft. Distance: 7 miles.  Difficulty level: difficult . See our map links page.

July 8  - Kaaterskill Clove. Postponed  An historic walk from Fawn's Leap in Kaaterskill Clove past old tannery ruins and the site of a once active community.  We will follow an old road and stream beds ending at Bastion Falls on Route 23A in the heart of Kaaterskill Clove.  Difficult.  Meet Historical Society Campus Route 23A in Haines Falls 9:00 AM Return 5:00 PM.  Vertical Rise 900 ft. Difficult with some rock scrambling and wading through the stream.

July 8 - Kaaterskill High Peak (This hike was originally planned for June 17th.  We will do this hike instead of the Kaaterskill Clove hike.)   High Peak offers views north to the Blackhead Range and South to Platte Clove and the Hudson Valley.   Meeting place: St. Francis deSales Church Elka Park .  9:00 AM. return 5:00 P.M. Vertical Rise: 1700 ft. Distance: 7 miles.  Difficulty level: difficult . See our map links page.

July 22 - Giant Ledge. Rained Out.  Panoramic views of the Devil's Path to the North and the Hudson Valley in the distance.  Vertical rise 1000 ft.  Distance 3 miles. Meet Big Indian 9:00 AM  return 2:00 PM Difficulty level: Moderate See our map links page.    Depending on the day, and the interest of the hikers, we may continue on to Panther Mountain.  Those who choose to continue will cover a total of 7 miles with a climb of 1600 ft  and return around 5:00 for a more difficult hike.

August 5  The Trapps to Mohonk Gatehouse. A beautiful walk in the Shawangunks. Excellent views and interesting rock formations. Moderate with rock scramble. Meet Thruway exit 18 New Paltz. 8:30 AM return 5:00.  Mohonk charges a fee to hike this Trail   Here are some photos. of our last visit to this area in 2001.

August 19 - Windham High Peak. Beautiful views of Hudson Valley. We will return by way of Burnt Knob with its views of the Big Hollow Valley. Vertical rise: 2000 ft. Distance: 7 miles. Meet Parking Area Rt. 23 East Windham 9:00 AM. return 5:00 PM Moderate to difficult. - This hike was originally scheduled for May 13, but was rained out. Let's hope for better weather!

September 9 -   Blackhead and Acra Point. Trail climbs one of the steepest slopes in the Catskills. Varied views of the Hudson Valley, East Jewett Valley and Big Hollow Valley. The Vertical Rise 1600 ft. distance 7.5 miles. Meet Maplecrest Post Office 9:00 AM. return 5:00 PM. Difficult.

October 7 - Slide Cornell and Wittenberg. Vigorous Hike in the hopefully cooler days of our hiking season. Spectacular views at several stops along the way. Vertical Rise 2500 ft. distance 8 miles. Meet intersection of Rt. 28 and 47 in Big Indian. 8:30 AM. return 6:00 PM. Difficult.

Hikes of previous years: 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001  2000 1999 1998 1997