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December 29, 2003 |
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Panther Mountain Ridge
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It was our hope to get a hike in before the big nor’easter that hit us on the 14th. However, the snow started falling earlier than we thought it would, around 9am, forcing us to change our plans that day. Originally we had planned to fill our bellies with breakfast burritos at Aaron’s house prior to climbing Slide and Cornell Mountains. We still enjoyed the breakfast, but after much debate we decided on a much shorter and safer adventure as the wind and snow continued to pick up.
After looking at the topographic map hanging on the wall, we decided to explore a small knob on the western slope of Panther Mountain right behind the house. We planned on a hike of about 1.5 miles to the top. The five of us grabbed our packs, rounded up the dogs and headed off at 9:30.
As the snow continued to fall harder and harder, we all were amazed at how beautiful the forest was and what a perfect hiking day it turned out to be. As we continued to climb through the Slide-Panther Mountain Wilderness, our friend Justin, a forester with NYSDEC Region 4, dubbed the outing "the million dollar hike" for two reasons. One reason was because of the winter wonderland we were in; the other was the estimated timber value of the forest. Huge, straight black cherry, sugar maple and white ash trees towered over us. He estimated that there was nearly a million dollars worth of timber on about thirty acres of the land here. This of course brought on a discussion about the monetary value of timber versus the intrinsic value of wilderness.
As we reached the knob, we noted the abundant blowdown, no doubt from the numerous storms we experienced in 2003. The knob is located directly across the Big Indian-Oliverea Valley from McKenley Hollow and its highest point is 2,384’ elevation. A long ridge (nearly 3 miles) extends to the east, eventually reaching the summit of Panther Mountain and separating Hatchery and Little Peck Hollows. After exploring a little, we had a decision to make. We could head back the way we came, we could continue down the other side into Hatchery Hollow where a sliver of state land extends down to Oliverea Road, or we could follow the ridge towards Panther’s summit for a ways and then drop down into Little Peck Hollow. We chose the latter.
As we hiked along the ridge, we discovered many partially-frozen wet areas and streamlets by breaking through the snow and ice with our boots. It was here we found our first patch of beautiful snow-covered hemlocks. Just prior to dropping down into Little Peck Hollow, we came across a small field (about an acre) on state land that borders Upper Esopus Fish & Game Club property. Without leaves on the trees and through the ever-increasing snowfall, we could just barely make out the other side of the valley.
The descent into Little Peck Hollow became very steep, and resulted in each of us hanging on to beech saplings to keep from falling. As we neared the stream we could hear its roar though the tall hemlocks that lined it. It was quite a sight to see so much water in a stream so small that it usually dries up for weeks at a time in summer. As we followed it out, Josie and Piper felt compelled to run and splash through the stream, coming out with icicles on their whiskers and making us glad that soon we would be back at the warm house.
Although it was a short hike with no scenic vistas or wildlife sightings (other than turkey tracks), the combination of great friends, the tranquil snowfall, and the wilderness of the Catskills truly made it a "million dollar hike". The majority of us that live in Shandaken and Olive can walk out of our back doors and be in publicly-owned wilderness in minutes - something many of us have come to take for granted, and a situation that most people throughout the country can only dream of. We regret that too many of us who live here year-round don’t take enough advantage of this opportunity. Sounds like a great New Year’s resolution doesn’t it?
- Chris and Aaron
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