Mountain Top Historical Society Hikes 2008 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 19 -  Waterfall Hike  A combination auto and foot tour of the most scenic waterfalls in our area.  Meeting place: Historical Society Campus Route 23A Haines Falls, NY.  9:00 AM. return 3:00 P.M. Vertical Rise: Several short climbs. Distance: Total about 3 miles.  Difficulty level: easy to moderate.

May 17 - Hunter Mountain Fire Tower from Spruceton Valley  Meet Westkill Flagpole at 9:00 AM.  We will visit the fire tower then descend into Stoney Clove.  Difficult because of length of walk (about 6 miles) and steep 2000 ft decent by way of the Becker Hollow trail.  We will need to leave cars at both ends of the trail.  If you are able to meet Larry and Bob in Stoney Clove to leave a car for the shuttle back to Spruceton, call Larry at (518) 734 4264 or Bob at 734-9701.

June 14  -  The Trapps to Zaidee's Bower. 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 .

June 28  -  Indian Head Views of Platte Clove and the Hudson Valley.  Rugged trail provides some of the best walking in the Catskills  Meeting place: St. Francis deSales Church, Elka Park.  9:00 AM. return 5:00 P.M. Vertical Rise: 1600 ft. Distance: 6 miles.  Difficulty level: difficult.
 
July 12 - Acra Point and Burnt Knob.  Views of Big Hollow Valley and North into the Hudson Valley. Meet Post office, Maplecrest. 9:00 AM return 4:00 PM. Distance 5.5 mi. Vertical Rise: 1300ft.  Difficulty: Moderate

July 26 - Mt. Tremper Noted for its restored fire tower and its rattlesnakes.  Meeting place: Junction Rt. 214 and 28 at the bronzed eagle (near Al's Seafood Resturaunt).  9:00 AM. return 5:00 P.M. Vertical Rise: 1900 ft. Distance: 6 miles.  Difficulty level: Moderate to difficult.

August 9- North Point   Extensive views of the Hudson Valley and the Eastern Escarpment including classic sites that inspired the Hudson River School. Distance 6 miles Vertical Rise: 870 ft. Difficulty: Moderate with a steep scramble.  Meeting place: Historical Society Campus Route 23A Haines Falls, NY.  9:00 AM. return 5:00 P.M.

August 16 - To be determined by the interests of the participants.

September 13 -  Giant Ledge.  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 ( Intersection of State Route 28 Ulster County Route 47) 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.

October 4 - Blackhead range.  Thomas Cole, Black Dome, and Black Head.  Our Fall Foliage Hike along the range above Big Hollow and East Jewett.  Meet: Maplecrest Post Office 9:00 AM, return 5:00 PM. 8 miles, 2000 ft climb. Difficult.

Hikes of previous years: 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001  2000 1999 1998 1997