The North Point Swarms

Saturday, August 11, 2007

The trail to North Point (see Trail Map #40) has many starting points, and it seemed that all were used this day. Of the multitude of parking area choices, Larry Allen (#1279) and Kevin Wagner (#1283) chose the Schutt Road Parking area just outside of the North South Lake Park gatehouse on Route 18.  Visitors and Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) personnel were swarming all over the entrance to the park.  Not a park ranger in sight who wasn’t already busy either assisting visitors or with other tasks.

The approach that we decide to take begins at the yellow-blazed Rock Shelter Trail at the outskirts of the recreation area that is North South Lake Park.  The trail itself is well-maintained and starts just a few feet west of the junction of Schutt Road and Route 18, within sight of the park entrance itself.  A comfortable and beautifully clear day offered Kevin, Larry, and the puppies -- Zephyr and Uli -- a gentle rising trail over moist, rocky terrain to the intersection of the red-blazed Mary’s Glen trail. These merging trails brought a rabble of hikers that were hiking up from the campground who struggled and strayed along the red trail.  In a couple places during the ascent, we had to lift and assist the leashed pups over boulders and up rock faces until we reached the junction of the blue-blazed Escarpment Trail.  The accumulation of thirty-plus hikers in front of us meandered for the last quarter mile of the ascent to North Point.

The crowded North Point vantage was littered with an array of hikers: there were families and loners, couples and large groups, and the young lad defacing the DEC trail sign with his knife.  When Kevin told him to stop carving on the sign, he asked if he could carve the post instead.  Classic.

At this crowded summit, new friends, Chris and Shannon, shared information with Larry and Kevin on the available views and other points of interest surrounding North South Lake. Some of this information ultimately diluted our enjoyment while other information improved our satisfaction of the day spent hiking in this area.

We left North Point to continue back via the Escarpment Trail. As we left, we met other groups of hikers on their way up. Some had found themselves misplaced, sending out “scouts” to find their way.  Other groups were behind us on their way down as we completed the three quarter mile hike to Newman’s Ledge.  In our desire to stay ahead of the crowd, we passed on hiking to Survey Monument and Badman Cave.  Having spoken to other hikers who had visited Badman Cave, it was apparent that it was similar to the “cave” on Twin Mountain at 3500 feet: more of a rock outcropping than a cave.

At Newman’s Ledge, we encounter a score of hikers stopped on the trail and scattered around the ledge who later become a challenge to pass as they worry their way down the rocky Escarpment Trail.  This group of hikers was led by hike leaders with walkie talkies, but the group was not organized well.  Thankfully, dogs are “through hikers,” and we work past them and distance ourselves on our push to Artist’s Rock. Hurrying along the trail, Larry has a scary fall right in front of Kevin, slipping on a rock and bruising his shoulder, skinning his leg, and stressing his thumb.  After a brief pause, Larry quickly gathers himself to continue no worse for the wear.

Within thirty minutes of Larry’s fall, we arrive at Artist’s Rock and have lunch.  Here, we quickly discover why painters have been inspired by this vantage. A one thousand foot shear drop and the view of the valley and Hudson River lie in the distance. Up the Hudson River, one can see the town of Catskill and the Rip Van Winkle Bridge. On a ridge past the Rip Van Winkle Bridge is the Olana -- the birthplace of American Art. [Note: Visit http://www.olana.org/ for details.] This is the art school that made Artist’s Rock famous.

Our hike along the Escarpment Trail south from Artist’s Rock showed repeated views of the valley and was uneventful until we reached the Catskill Mountain House. Here, we saw many people and their dogs enjoying the very same view the hotel guests enjoyed in its heyday. We soon left and for unknown reasons took a herd path along the cliff face just below the Escarpment Trail. The path became less than a herd path, precarious as it slanted along the loose shale-lined cliff. Dissatisfied that this was a path at all, we turned back. Kevin led the return with the pups in between himself and Larry.

The sloping path required constant monitoring of foot placement for fear of slipping on the shale. Larry hears Kevin yell and yell again. Kevin kept yelling, quickly scurrying onwards and slapping at his legs. The dogs, too, were frantically running about chased by unknown culprits. Larry sees Kevin drop his video camera, all the while rushing along the path still yelling and slapping his legs. We finally gather in a group with the dogs standing and shaking with their tails between their legs, nipping at their own legs and sides. Larry slaps a yellow Jacket off Uli’s back and the culprits are now known. Kevin moans and massages his legs, having been stung over twelve times. (Oh, what I wouldn’t give for “nettle bites”, instead.) The dogs were also stung numerous times each.  At this time, the only party member without stings is Larry.  Perhaps it was Larry’s wind pants that kept him from being stung.  Perhaps it was his foul odor or his placement on trail.

We retrieve all of the dropped gear and again start back to a marked trail. Along the way, we meet four other wayward souls who have wandered off onto the very same herd path that enticed us.  On the way back to the trail, a lone yellow jacket scout finds Larry and stings him on the top of his head.

Back on trail, we discuss what happened and push the last three miles to Schutt Road to end our thirteen mile hike.  These last three miles are alternatively the most enjoyable and the most challenging.  Enjoyable because we are no longer crowded by the sixty to seventy other hikers we have seen thus far, only encountering three mountain bikers.  Challenging because our legs are tired, and we are all in slight pain.  Navigating the trails to find the quickest way back to the truck, we follow a horse trail and cross a bridge where we hear someone along Schutt Road riding a dirt bike.  We knew we were close to the parking area.

            The parking area holds its own entertainment. A lost couple following a park-provided random map are disillusioned to find they are not where they think they are, and he and Kevin have a parody about random maps and bears and wolves. The couple leave laughing, and leave us laughing, also. While we sit in the parking area enjoying the area, several cars stop asking for directions.  Then, along comes Rich and Maria Lager.  Rich bums a cigarette and a conversation begins regarding where we’ve hiked today. As we chat, Rich wanders over to his car and pulls out a guitar and starts strumming a rendition of Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant.”  We all converse in tune with his guitar playing, as though we were recording a podcast with matching background music.  Rich tells us about his web site and that Maria is an independent musician who often plays in cafes in SoHo.

Maria presents us with a CD of her original songs, called Songs That Sing.  After learning that Larry and I produce a podcast, Maria Maria agrees that we can play her music on our podcast, the Schwagcast.  We part as new friends, and we suggest they hike with us soon. They leave for the town of Hunter to a German Festival with food and tasty beverages.  We prepare for our trip home.  Our hike is done.  We’re North South Laked out.  For now.