A five-day backpacking thru-hike from Sewards to Upper Works via Ouluska Pass involving a grueling 8.5-hour bushwhack through dense spruce-balsam thickets with extensive blowdown, followed by hiking the Northern Peaks Trail and horse trails via Duck Hole and Preston Ponds.

Halcott Mountain features a well-established herd path that is steep and increasingly popular, with no technical scrambles or cliffs. Summer conditions include nettles (manageable in long pants), while winter brings beautiful summit photography; the route requires good navigation skills despite being relatively straightforward to follow.

Route guide for an out-and-back bushwhack from Moonhaw Road traversing Balsam Cap, Rocky, and Lone mountains, with optional Friday Mountain extension. Describes steep, densely forested terrain requiring solid backcountry navigation skills and no reliable water sources.

A 39-year-old hiker became lost on Crane Mountain on June 4 and texted 911 for help. Forest Ranger Donegan located the hiker, who was in good condition with adequate water, and guided them back to the trailhead.

A comprehensive trail guide to the quiet northern Catskills region featuring multiple interconnected peaks with second-growth forest, historical remnants, and scenic views. The trails use inconsistent paint blazing and are less well-known than the High Peaks, offering solitude and peaceful hiking experiences.

A three-day wilderness bushwhacking trip (May 1-3) in the Pharaoh Mountain area featuring ascents of Bear Mountain, Antwine, Pine Hill, Potter Mountain, and Treadway Mountain with open rock, good views, and mostly pleasant spring conditions.

A challenging bushwhack route over North Dome and Mount Sherrill, typically completed in approximately 3.5 hours to the Mount Sherrill summit. The author hiked this route on April 30 with patches of ice in shaded spots but no spikes needed, and found nettles had not yet come in.

A bike-and-hike adventure in the southwestern Catskills covering five peaks (four Catskill hundred highest) over 13 miles on foot and 3+ miles of bushwhacking. Conditions included muddy sections near Hodge Pond, open woods throughout, and some brushy areas; spring wildflowers were beginning to emerge.

Hikers completed a traverse from Knoblock to Tripod on April 9 in frozen spring conditions with 1–2 feet of snow in places. Wore spikes throughout and encountered thick blowdown and new growth sections requiring some route-finding, but conditions were generally navigable and the frozen ground provided good support.

A steep bushwhack route on Ticetonyk Mountain using a combination of blazed trails, herd paths, and trailless sections to ascend the south ridge. As of December 2023, the access road was severely washed-out with heavy ruts.

Hikers visited Richmond Mountain on November 18, 2023, finding wet conditions after recent rain and navigating old roads to reach a short, steep bushwhack summit approach. The summit was socked in with fog and brief snow flurries during the descent.

A classic out-and-back route via Platte Clove crossing Kaaterskill High Peak summit and descending to Hurricane Ledge. The trail typically features significant mud, inconsistent blazing, and complex route-finding with multiple intersecting old roads and trails.

A guide to the Nazgûl Loop, a custom bushwhack route combining three Catskill peaks near Hodge Pond with sections of maintained trail, old woods roads, and off-trail navigation through unique terrain including stunning boardwalks, a narrow ridge, and lightning-struck trees.

Evergreen guide to the out-and-back hike to Southwest Hunter from Stony Clove Notch, featuring a steep rocky start through a boulder field, marked trails transitioning to herd path, and an unmarked off-trail section to the summit canister.

This is an evergreen route guide for the Van Wyck to Table and Peekamoose loop in the Catskills, described as one of the most difficult hikes in the range. The route involves steep ascents, bushwhacking between peaks, and challenging terrain including talus fields and cliff exposure.

A winter hike of four Catskill peaks from Denning Road on March 10, 2023. The party used microspikes below 3500 feet and snowshoes above, with temperatures in the 20s-30s and light wind until afternoon snow began around 3 PM, depositing 3-4 inches by day's end.

A winter traverse of Sugarloaf, Spaulding, and Abraham in Maine on March 7, 2023, with unbroken trail most of the ridge and significant trail-breaking required above treeline. Recent snowfall (nearly 3 feet in 7 days) left the route largely untracked except for scattered evidence of prior hikers, though some broken trail appeared on the Fire Warden's descent. The 16-mile traverse took 12 hours with cloud coverage and wind on the exposed ridge.

A March 5, 2023 trip to the Crockers and Reddington in Maine involving bushwhacking, trail breaking through fluffy snow, and navigating dense spruce forest with minimal recent trail trace.

Hiker ascended Owls Head via Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond, Lincoln Brook Trail, and the steep Brutus bushwhack route on a cold day with persistent snowfall. Ridge and summit views were limited due to snow and clouds, and the Lincoln Brook section felt longer than expected.

Hiked Bearpen and Vly on February 18, 2023, encountering patchy ice and hard ice layers from refrozen melt. Microspikes were necessary, especially on Vly where hard ice made it difficult to get good traction, though the hike was completed without incident.

Jay Mountain Ridge is described as a challenging bushwhack route with exposed terrain, rock scrambles, and rugged footing between the two summits. The ridge offers panoramic Adirondack views but requires strong backcountry navigation skills and appropriate gear and timing, especially in cold or exposed conditions.

Kaaterskill High Peak via Hurricane Ledge is a long lollipop route from Platte Clove featuring wet trails, deep mud on lower slopes, and a steep, tricky ledge climb. The route includes old woods roads, boardwalks, bushwhack sections, and historical sites. Winter ascents of Hurricane Ledge are extremely dangerous due to icy conditions and cliff exposure.</summary> <parameter name="confidence">Medium

Two hikers completed a bushwhack ascent of Olderbark followed by a ridge traverse to Plateau on November 19, 2022. The upper elevation showed crusty snow and very steep terrain with a cliff band, while the descent involved rocky and wet trail conditions at lower elevations.

A scenic moderate loop hike through Black Dome Valley with two excellent lookouts offering views of the Blackhead Range. The trail is rugged in spots, particularly one steep section near Burnt Knob Lookout where microspikes have been useful in icy conditions, and includes beautiful hemlock forests and stream crossings.

A clockwise loop hike on October 9, 2022 through Rusk, East Rusk, Hunter, and Southwest Hunter via herd paths and marked trails. Conditions were mostly dry with two muddy spots on the Devil's Path; the spring below John Robb lean-to was flowing heavily.

A steep bushwhack ascent of Samuels Point above the Ashokan Reservoir with abandoned forest roads, dense vegetation, and scrambling terrain. The author completed it in October 2022 on a perfect hiking day and previously turned back in November 2021 due to snow and ice on uneven terrain.

The Nun-Da-Ga-O Ridge Loop is a difficult, challenging route featuring multiple scrambles, open ledges, and panoramic views. The trail includes white-blazed sections that transition to unmarked terrain requiring good navigation skills and steady nerves. Trailhead access via unmaintained O'Toole Road can be muddy or require walking in winter and spring.</summary> <parameter name="confidence">Medium

Solo counterclockwise loop of the Catskill 9 completed in 12 hours 15 minutes covering approximately 20.5 miles and 6,500 feet of elevation gain. Conditions were mist and clouds with occasional drizzle and some wet terrain; hiker reported good herdpath usage and manageable bushwhacking between peaks.

Seymour Mountain is a long, remote hike featuring steep terrain, slab scrambles, and significant blowdown. The trail follows a long flat blazed approach before ascending a steep, well-worn herd path to the summit with excellent views of the surrounding Seward Range.

A scenic but very steep hike combining trailed Ashokan High Point with a steep bushwhack to Mombaccus Mountain through dense understory and loose rock. Mosquito activity was heavy during a late-May visit.

A group of 10 hikers ascended Round Mountain and Kaaterskill High Peak on February 26, 2022, following recent snowfall of 6-8 inches. Snowshoes were required throughout, and icy conditions on the descent required web assistance in one sketchy spot; previous warmups had largely melted the earlier snowpack.

Hiker encountered solid ice on the herd path and off-trail sections while climbing Vly, discovering that heavy trail usage creates packed paths even without cars at the trailhead. Spikes would have been essential; snowshoes were unnecessary and the hiker nearly slid down during descent.

Two hikers traversed Big Indian and Fir via Biscuit Brook on a cold winter day with rock-hard icy trail conditions and light powder at higher elevations. They used microspikes throughout and carried snowshoes and skis that went unused, navigating a herd path between summits.

A winter hike of nine Catskill peaks on January 26, 2022, in very cold conditions (-10 to -15°F). The hiker used snowshoes and found good trail conditions on Slide but faced challenging navigation through thick evergreens; later sections had mixed snowshoe coverage and required significant trail-breaking, particularly in the descent off Table toward Denning.

Solo hike on November 7, 2021 from Woodland Valley Campground attempting to climb Slide Mountain's northeast face via bushwhack. Reporter successfully summited Slide, Cornell, and Wittenberg but did not complete the slide ascent itself; found steep terrain, loose rocks, and some ice in shaded areas, particularly on descent.

A comprehensive route guide for the Table-Peekamoose-Lone-Rocky traverse in the Catskills, describing a well-maintained blazed trail to Table and Peekamoose, followed by challenging herd path and bushwhack sections to Lone and Rocky. The bushwhack between Lone and Rocky involves dense forest and frequent off-trail navigation with significant difficulty.</summary> <parameter name="confidence">Low

A comprehensive guide to the Dix Range loop from Elk Lake, described as a 16–20 mile, 5500 ft elevation gain challenge featuring six summits. The route includes a long walk-in, the steep Macomb Slide (with occasional needle ice in cold conditions), unmarked herd paths requiring strong navigation skills, and primitive camping near Slide Brook and Lilian Brook lean-tos.

Richmond Mountain and Richtmyer Peak are quiet, infrequently-used peaks in the northern Catskills accessed via the overgrown Long Path, with sparse and non-reflective trail blazing that requires daytime navigation. A scenic viewpoint overlooks the Blackhead Range from a herd path spur about a quarter mile from the col between the two mountains.

This is an evergreen trail guide describing the Colgate Lake route to Stoppel Point, a long but easy out-and-back hike featuring meadows, woods, marshes, stream crossings, and footbridges. The route climbs via Dutcher Notch and Milt's Lookout, passing the site of a 1983 plane crash just below the summit, with views of the Blackhead range and Hudson Valley.

This is a challenging 6.5-mile bushwhack thru-hike over North Dome and Mount Sherrill that requires advanced navigation skills and solid off-trail experience. The route features steep ledges on North Dome's eastern side, dense evergreen forest, and (as of an April visit) significant ice, snow, and icicle formations requiring microspikes.

This is an evergreen trail guide describing the hiking route to Balanced Rocks and Pitchoff Mountain summit, noting it is a short but challenging out-and-back hike with several scenic viewpoints and one tricky rocky section below Balanced Rocks that can be difficult in winter conditions.

A long lollipop route combining marked trail and bushwhack sections to climb Fir and Big Indian mountains, with a medium-sized parking area and patchy LTE coverage above 3250 feet.

A trail guide describing the Kaaterskill Rail Trail, a flat 1.5-mile converted railroad bed in the Catskills leading to views of Kaaterskill Falls. The guide notes winter conditions with ice and icicles on the falls, emphasizes proper footwear for safety on steep sections near the viewing platform, and warns about the notorious herd path to the top of the falls with serious fall risks.

A detailed evergreen route guide for Mill Brook Ridge via Kelly Hollow, describing the easy trail through Kelly Hollow paired with a steep bushwhack ascent to the summit, plus observations from a winter hike with snow and cold conditions (14°F).

The Fisherman's Path is an unmaintained, faint bushwhack route alongside the East Branch Neversink River in Denning with multiple stream crossings and no blazes; route-finding is challenging and requires experience, with the second half being harder to follow and more overgrown than the first.

A trailhead and route guide for accessing Rocky and Lone peaks via Fisherman's Path, with commentary on cell service availability and notes on route-finding challenges in the balsam thickets between the peaks and alternative descent options.

Chimney Mountain trailhead has been closed to the public since August 2023; access is restricted to cabin guests and residents of Indian Lake. The mountain remains accessible via bushwhack through the Siamese Ponds Wilderness. The standard route is a 2.5-mile out-and-back with gently rolling terrain that becomes steeper near the summit, featuring distinctive chimney rock formations and caves.

The herd path from Ashokan High Point down to Little Ashokan is a steep, unmaintained, and challenging route requiring off-trail experience. The descent features rough ledges, loose rock and dirt, significant blowdown, and scrambling sections; the route is sketchy and hazardous throughout, though worn enough to be traceable with careful route-finding.

A detailed evergreen trail guide describing the Hunter Mountain loop route via Spruceton and Devil's Path trails, including terrain characteristics, muddy sections, boggy areas, and route-finding notes. The author includes a first-person account of a Labor Day sunrise hike with specific observations about trail conditions and landmarks.

A detailed trail guide for the Long Path over Ginseng Mountain and Mount Hayden in the northern Catskills, describing an out-and-back route with steep but non-technical sections. The hike offers solitude with modest scenery, second-growth forest, and historical logging trail crossings. The route is marked with aqua blazes and features short steep pitches interspersed with gentler woodland walking.