Yesterday, I led a hike for Schenectady ADK to Touch-Me-Not and Cabot Mountains, two small peaks in the western Catskills.
It seemed like a long drive to Little Pond State Campground, south of Pepacton Reservoir and southwest of Margaretville, but it was really only about 2 hours. We parked outside the closed campground gate, and walked in to the start of the blue trail up Touch-Me-Not, a fairly steep and relentless climb of about 700 feet. There was lots of recent blowdown along the way as a result of recent high winds and coastal storms, and we cleared what we could without any tools.
Beyond the summit, we turned west on the red-marked Finger Lakes Trail for the short walk to the base of the even steeper climb up Cabot Mountain. Though this climb was only about 400 feet, the steepness and the slippery downed leaves made for slow going. There was a nice viewpoint near the summit, but the air was so hazy that views were not all that good.
After lunch at the summit, we descended via the yellow trail, through the ruins of an old farmstead, and back to Little Pond. From there it was an easy walk along the pond past campsites and back to the cars.
Not a very photogenic day, so no pictures, but it had been a good hike with friends on a better than expected weather day.
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