Reports

11 match(es)

Clear
confidence: High Ranger Incident · posted 2026-04-22 · adirondack-explorer-sar · source → · detail
Forest Rangers responded to a report of a subject stranded on Watch Island with a canoe who had already capsized once in cold water. Rangers used a motorboat to rescue the subject and their dog.
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confidence: High Official Advisory · posted 2026-03-12 · dec-press-releases · source → · detail
DEC warns of severe spring conditions in Adirondack and Catskill backcountry: key winter routes impassable due to washed-out bridges, thawed water crossings, and flooding; compacted snow is unreliable and leads to postholing; high water presents life-threatening hazards on stream crossings that change rapidly with weather.
Calamity
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confidence: Medium Conditions Update · posted 2025-08-18 · mountain-hiking · source → · detail
The Escarpment Trail is a 23.9-mile ridgeline thru-hike in the Catskills featuring exposed ledges, wooded ridge walks, and frequent viewpoints. Water is scarce along the route; hikers should filter or carry extra water despite limited sources near Batavia Kill and the trailhead areas. The trail is moderately difficult with much less elevation gain than the Devil's Path, suitable for 2–3 day backpacking trips with multiple bail-out options.
Black Dome, Blackhead, Kaaterskill High, North Dome, Thomas Cole, Windham High
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confidence: High Trip Report · hiked 2025-07-09 · adkhighpeaks · source → · detail
A 10.5-hour hike combining Lower Wolfjaw and Noonmark from AMR parking, covering 14.3 miles with ~5000 feet of elevation gain. Conditions were dry on the trail itself, but stones and roots were slippery and greasy, with low water levels and cloud cover on LWJ summit.
Lower Wolfjaw, Noonmark
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confidence: Medium Conditions Update · posted 2025-04-28 · mountain-hiking · source → · detail
Multi-year collection of user-submitted Catskill trail conditions reports covering seasonal variations in snow, ice, mud, and water conditions across numerous peaks and routes. Reports span from 2021–2025 and include details on required gear (spikes, snowshoes, crampons) and trail hazards for planning purposes.
Balsam Lake, Hunter, Balsam, Balsam Cap, Black Dome, Blackhead, Cornell, Eagle, Friday, Giant Ledge, Halcott, Indian Head, Kaaterskill High, North Dome, Panther, Peekamoose, Plateau, Rusk, Sherrill, Slide, Sugarloaf, Thomas Cole, Twin, West Kill, Windham High, Wittenberg
blowdownbreakable-crustbug-heavycoldcornice-riskcrampons-requireddeep-snowdryerodedfrozen-groundhard-icehigh-waterhigh-windiceloose-rocklow-visibilitymudmud-deeppostholingrainrime-icerotten-snowscramblescreeslabslide-routeslushsnowsnowshoes-requiredspikes-requiredstream-crossing-difficultthunderstorm-riskverglaswater-availablewater-drywater-scarcewater-stagnantwetwet-rock
confidence: Medium Conditions Update · posted 2025-04-28 · mountain-hiking · source → · detail
This is a curated collection of user-submitted trail condition reports for Catskill peaks spanning from late 2021 through April 2025, covering seasonal conditions including snow, ice, mud, trail quality, water availability, and wildlife/bug activity across multiple routes and elevations.
Hunter, Balsam, Balsam Cap, Bearpen, Big Indian, Black Dome, Blackhead, Cornell, Eagle, Fir, Friday, Halcott, Indian Head, Kaaterskill High, Lone, North Dome, Panther, Peekamoose, Plateau, Rocky, Rusk, Sherrill, Slide, Sugarloaf, Thomas Cole, Twin, Vly, West Kill, Windham High, Wittenberg
blowdownbreakable-crustbug-heavycoldcrampons-requireddeep-snowdryerodedexposedfrozen-groundhard-icehigh-windicelow-visibilitymudmud-deepovergrownparking-fullpostholingrainrime-icerotten-snowslushsnowsnowshoes-requiredspikes-requiredsteepverglaswater-availablewater-drywater-scarcewetwet-rockwhiteout
confidence: High Trip Report · hiked 2024-08-27 · adkhighpeaks · source → · detail
Two hikers completed "the six" Catskill peaks from Denning base camp on August 27, encountering well-established herd paths, occasional thick vegetation, and rock shelves while navigating between summits and returning via Fisherman's Path.
Balsam Cap, Friday, Lone, Peekamoose, Rocky, Table
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confidence: High Trip Report · hiked 2024-07-31 · adkhighpeaks · source → · detail
Warner Creek and Devils Path trails in excellent condition on July 31. Water sources varied: Warner Creek spring had good flow; Devils Path upper water crossing had limited flow requiring pumping, while lower flows were dry. Parking at Notch Inn Road and Route 214 was limited due to staged construction materials.
Plateau
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confidence: High Ranger Incident · hiked 2024-06-13 · adirondack-explorer-sar · source → · detail
A 32-year-old hiker from Connecticut became severely dehydrated on the Feldspar Brook trail on Gray Peak on June 13 and required helicopter evacuation by state police and forest rangers. The hiker was vomiting and unable to move under their own power when rangers located them.
Dix, Gray
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confidence: High Ranger Incident · hiked 2024-06-10 · adirondack-explorer-sar · source → · detail
A 21-year-old hiker became dehydrated at Wolf Jaw lean-to on June 10 and activated an SOS via Garmin. Rangers responded, provided hydration and food, and assisted the hiker out of the woods.
Lower Wolfjaw, Upper Wolfjaw
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confidence: Low Conditions Update · posted 2023-03-03 · mountain-hiking · source → · detail
An evergreen trail guide to the Devil's Path, a 24-mile point-to-point hiking route through the Catskills known for extreme difficulty, relentless elevation gain/loss, and significant winter mountaineering hazards on iced western flanks. The guide covers seasonal closures, water scarcity, trailhead information, and route details for the eastern and western halves.</summary> <parameter name="confidence">Low
Hunter, Blackhead, Indian Head, Kaaterskill High, North Dome, Plateau, Sherrill, Sugarloaf, Twin, West Kill
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