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November 2, 2001 |
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Doubletop Mountain
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Doubletop Mountain, split between the Townships of Denning and Hardenburgh, is one of our favorite places in all of the Catskills. Because a large portion of the mountain, including the summit, is private property, it remains a trail-less peak… technically. The summit climbs to an elevation of 3,860', and its shape is easily recognizable due to the two evergreen, camel-like humps. We embarked in mid-October on an 11-mile trek to this summit, which sits on the boundary of the NYC Watershed and is the headwaters of the Beaverkill River, Biscuit Brook, and Dry Brook - three streams flowing different directions, into totally different drainages.
Our trip began at the Biscuit Brook Trailhead (2,100'), 12.5 miles south of Big Indian on County Route 47. After signing the register, continue north on the blue-blazed Pine Hill-West Branch Trail. No other trails intersect this one for about 7 miles, but it is always good to remember that blue-marked DEC trails run north/south, red trails run east/west, and yellow are either spur or connector trails that link two others. After 2.0 miles of gradual climbing, you'll reach the Biscuit Brook Lean-to and have to cross the brook twice shortly there after. The Biscuit Brook, a tributary to the West Branch Neversink, is such a beautiful stream. It is surrounded by over-hanging hemlocks, and its bottom is not lined with cobbles, but with bedrock - allowing for many smooth chutes of water and plenty of deep holes.
As you begin to scale a shoulder of Big Indian Mtn, the incline becomes greater. At 3,500' (4.0 miles), the trail makes an abrupt right turn at a boundary line between State and private land. We turned and followed the yellow-blazed property line toward the lower of Doubletop's two 'tops'. From here on, you will be in virgin Catskill forest, however because this southern approach is the most common, what normally would be a 1.5-mile bushwhack (one-way) is now a well-worn footpath. A dark, moist environment of sphagnum moss and balsam fir greet you immediately. A descent of 400' into the col between Big Indian and Doubletop on some unstable ground is next.
As you ascend Doubletop from the southeast, you will begin to see the more cold-hardy fir, red spruce, mountain ash, and yellow birch. Numerous ledges are present, making life difficult for those with large packs. Near the top, remnants of a plane crash exist. Someone had left a piece of metal on the path, but we could not locate the wreckage (much like we've found on Kaaterskill High Peak and North Lake).
The actual summit is the northern hump, and several faint paths lead between the two. Fighting through the spruce and fir proved very difficult as usual, and left numerous bruises and scrapes on our bodies. We were able to locate two vistas and the canister on the trail-less summit. The crown of Doubletop is a whole different world and chances are you won't find others up there. Because of its remote location, we did not hear a single human-made noise between the time we shut the car door in the morning and when we returned at dusk.
- Chris and Aaron
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