Hike Reviews

<p>Yes, you are correct that the Cornell-Wittenberg-Slide Trail, from its start at the Phoenicia-East Branch Trail to about the 3,500-foot elevation, is very rocky and a relatively unattractive route. &nbsp;It is the old road formerly used to access the fire tower and was not built as a trail. &nbsp;That is why the hike described above uses the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail to climb Slide Mountain. &nbsp;This is a far more interesting and attractive route. &nbsp;Unless you just want to get to the summit and back by the quickest route (and it seems that most people want to do that), I strongly recommend that you use the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail for the ascent of the mountain. &nbsp;And for those to whom it matters, portions of the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail are actually "runnable"!</p>

<p>I just did this hike with a friend of mine today after 2-3 inches of snow fell overnight. &nbsp;The hike description was right on point as usual and it was relatively easy to find our way up to the summit. &nbsp;The snow on the ground definitely made the climb a strenuous one but the conditions were awesome with a fresh powder of only 2 inches on the ground and everything around with some snow or ice covering it. &nbsp;I would definitely recommend doing this hike if possible in the winter however it is obviously a little more dangerous with the icy conditions. &nbsp;Most of the views were amazing especially because of the recent snow also creating numerous icicles on various rocks formations. &nbsp;The fresh snow revealed some bear traffic at 4 different locations which got the neck muscles their share of exercise with all the over the shoulder peeks. &nbsp;The red blazed Cornell-Wittenberg-Slide Trail is not very well marked up around the summit and the yellow blazed Phoenicia-West Branch Trail had a long stretch without any blazes as well. &nbsp;I am guessing it was because the trail is probably "obvious" but not when the ground is covered in snow and it looks like the trail might go one way or another at times. &nbsp;All in all I would definitely do this hike again someday perhaps in the summer.</p>

<P>Michael is indeed correct that the length of the hike should be 6.8 miles.&nbsp; The hike description has been corrected.&nbsp; As for the rating, the hike involves a climb of about 1,600 vertical feet.&nbsp; I would consider any hike with such a significant elevation gain to be "strenuous" for purposes of hike ratings, although I recognize that many hikers might find the hike "moderate," or even "easy."&nbsp; I should add that, as far as Catskill peaks go, the climb of Slide Mountain is significantly easier than many other Catskill peaks.</P>

<p>The full write up has a very enjoyable hike description.</p>

<p>I recently did this hike and I would like to update some things about it:</p> <p>1-This can be a very wet and muddy hike, esp. after a rain storm. I hiked it the day after a good soaking and there were rushing streams and muddy trails for half of this trail --- so be prepared for it!</p> <p>2-The 3500 ft. sign is gone so you will have to find the south facing lookout without that sign, it is still pretty obvious even though the sign is gone where it it. The South facing lookout is becoming overgrown with trees making it hard to see many of the mountatins from it. However you can still see the High Point, NJ monument with binos if you look in the direction of 197 degrees if the visibility is good.</p> <p>3-The view from the "Burroughs Rock" is also becoming very overgrown with trees making it almost impossible to see much other than the reservoir and the mountains towards the East. Couldn't see many Catskill mtns from here (it is claimed you can see 75 named Catskill peaks from here ... not anymore you can't except maybe when the leaves are gone)</p> <p>4-The west and north facing viewpoints on the way up the Curtis trail are still clear though and worth the slogging through the water and mud!</p>