Mount Everett State Reservation, MA: Guilder Pond - Mount Everett - Jug End

ABOUT THE PARK:
Mount Everett State Reservation - Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation


DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 42.103508, -73.452774

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Shortly after turning into the park at the park sign, there is a gate with parking before the gate.  The gate is generally open during the summer so people can drive up to the Guilder Pond picnic area, however, due to severe erosion from Hurricane Irene, at this date the road is gated.

TRAIL MAPS:
South Taconic Trails Map (check for new edition Spring 2015) - NY/NJ  Trail Conference
Mt. Washington State Forest Trail Map - Massachusetts DCR
South Taconic Range Map - Berkshire Natural Resources Council

HIKE DISTANCE:
Guilder Pond - Mount Everett - Jug End:  9.3 miles
Guilder Pond - Mount Everett:  3.85 miles
Guilder Pond - Jug End:  7.5 miles

PEAK BAGGING:
Mount Everett - Peakery.com
Mount Bushnell - Peakery.com

APPALACHIAN TRAIL SECTION HIKING:
Trailheadfinder.com - AT section miles 1490 - 1493.5

THE HIKE:

Walk beyond the barrier to begin the hike up the gravel road.

Erosion damage to the road from Hurricane Irene.

Turn left on the blue-blazed Guilder Pond Trail which loops around the pond.

Guilder Pond

Guilder Pond Panorama

The Guilder Pond Trail loops around and meets up with the white-blazed Appalachian Trail.  Turn left to Jug end, right to Mount Everett.  Heading towards Mount Everett, the AT comes out into the upper parking lot at a composting toilet with a large Appalachian Trail sign to the left.

Either continue left on the AT or straight beyond a barrier on a gravel road up Mount Everett.  For this hike I chose to ascend on the gravel road and descend on the Appalachian Trail.

A view of Mount Greylock from the gravel road up Mount Everett.

Going up the gravel road, a final sharp turn to the right brings you to a stone shelter with amazing panoramic views.  This view is not on the AT so if you don't take the gravel road, you need to leave the AT to get to it.

Stone shelter at views.

Panoramic view at stone shelter.  Mount Greylock is the tallest mountain in the distance.

Continue along the gravel road which meets up with the white-blazed Appalachian Trail.  Turn left on the AT to reach the summit of Mount Everett.

More views before reaching the summit.

Old fire tower footings at the summit of Mount Everett.

View south of Mount Race from Mount Everett.

From this point retrace back to the parking area either on the AT or the gravel road then continue north on the AT to Jug End.

Fall Foliage on the Appalachian Trail

Views on the way to Jug End.

Cairn at Jug End - continue on a few more steps for views.

View from Jug End

On the way back clouds had moved in so it gave the views along the AT a different look.

Retrace steps back to the upper parking lot, turn right beyond the composting toilet and take the gravel road back to the lower parking lot.

FALL HIKING SNACK RECOMMENDATION:

Super Moist Pumpkin Bread

Because I was in the process of having some dental work done, I was not allowed to eat anything crunchy so I had to come up with a soft hiking snack.  I made a few modifications to the Super Moist Pumpkin Bread recipe (used half the sugar, omitted walnuts, added 1/2 tsp. cloves, used whole wheat flour) and not only was it perfect for a fall hiking day, it was delicious and vegan!

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  From parking area before gate, walk beyond gate and follow the gravel road
[  0.65]  Turn left on blue-blazed Guilder Pond Trail
[  1.20]  Unmarked side trail to right to rock outcrop with pond view
[  1.35]  Turn right on boardwalk on white/blue-blazed combined Appalachian Trail/Guider Pond Trail
[  1.45]  Straight through parking lot past composting toilet on right, cross barrier and follow unmarked gravel road
[  1.60]  Appalachian Trail joins gravel road briefly from left then leave to the right
[  2.05]  View at stone cabin, continue straight to white-blazed Appalachian trail and turn left
[  2.20]  View to the right at blue triangle marker
[  2.30]  Summit of Mount Everett at old fire tower footings; retrace
[  2.40]  View to the left at blue triangle marker
[  2.60]  Keep straight on AT when unmarked road to stone shelter comes in from right
[  2.85]  AT turns left on gravel road briefly then leaves to the right on stone steps
[  3.00]  Come out at upper parking lot at large AT sign, keep left towards composting toilet, turning right just before on the white/blue (combined AT/Guider Pond Trail)
[  3.15]  Continue straight on white-blazed AT on boardwalk when blue-blazed Guilder Pond Trail goes left
[  3.40]  Straight on AT at Hemlocks Shelter sign; rock hop over creek; straight on AT when blue-blazed trail goes right to Glen Brook Shelter
[  4.00]  Rock hop over small creek
[  4.15]  Keep left on AT when blue-blazed Elbow Trail goes straight; rock hop over creek
[  4.70]  AT crosses rock outcrop with views on summit of Mount Bushnell
[  5.00]  More views to the right
[  5.65]  Rock cairn at Jug End; continue briefly to views, retrace
[  8.45]  At upper parking lot turn right beyond composing toilet and follow gravel road back to lower parking lot
[  9.30]  Back at lower parking lot

Catskill Park, NY: Windham High Peak, Burnt Knob, Acra Point

ABOUT THE PARK:
Catskill Forest Preserve - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation


DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 42.288765, -74.114545

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Parking lot almost at the end of Big Hollow Road.

TRAIL MAP:
Northeastern Catskill Trails Map #141 - NY/NJ Trail Conference

HIKE DISTANCES:
Windham High Peak - Burnt Knob - Acra Point Lollipop:  10.5 miles
Shorter versions with NY/NJ Trail Conference links:
Windham High Peak via Burnt Knob Out and Back:  7.3 miles
Acra Point Loop:  5.2 miles

PEAK BAGGING:
Windham High Peak - Peakery.com
Burnt Knob - Peakery.com
Acra Point - Peakery.com

THE HIKE:
When driving in, make note of a trailhead on the left shortly before the parking lot.  This is where the hike starts.

Immediately cross a brand new bridge (replacing one destroyed by Hurricane Irene) and sign the trail register at the other side of the bridge.

Foot bridge crosses over Batavia Kill.

Red-blazed Black Dome Range Trail

Blue-blazed Escarpment Trail

While ascending the blue-blazed Escarpment Trail, turn around to see Acra Point.

Fall foliage on the Escarpment Trail.

The Blackhead Range from Burnt Knob side trail overlook.

Windham High Peak from Burnt Knob Overlook

The Hudson Valley from Burnt Knob Overlook

Panorama of Burnt Knob Overlook

View of the Black Dome Valley from the other side of Burnt Knob heading towards Windham High Peak.

3500 ft elevation sign just before the summit of Windham High Peak.

Hudson Valley view from Windham High Peak

Fall Foliage in the Hudson Valley from Windham High Peak

Historical graffiti on Windham High Peak.

Continue on briefly to the other side of the WIndham High Peak summit for a view of the Blackhead Range before heading back.

Heading back towards Acra Point.

Returning to the trail junction, turn right to return to car, straight for Acra Point loop.

Burnt Knob (left) and Windham High Peak (right behind tree) from Escarpment Trail ascending Acra Point

Hudson Valley view from Acra Point

Continuing on from Acra Point, the trail goes through a very attractive fairytale-like spruce forest.

At the next trail junction, turn right on the yellow-blazed Batavia Kill Trail.

Batavia Kill Shelter

The trail follows along the Batavia Kill.

A footbridge that barely survived Hurricane Irene.

Another brand new bridge on the red-blazed Black Dome Range Trail just before the parking lot.

HIKE SUMMARY:
[  0.00]  Walk back the way you drove in briefly, then turn right on the red-blazed trail; cross footbridge and sign trail register
[  1.00]  Left on blue-blazed Escarpment Trail towards Burnt Knob
               *** turn right on blue trail for 5.2 mile Acra Point Loop ***
[  1.40]  Side trail on left to overlook of Blackhead Range
[  1.85]  Side trail on right to overlook of Hudson Valley
[  2.20]  Side trail on left to overlook; a little farther along another overlook on left
[  3.40]  3500 feet elevation sign
[  3.45]  Windham High Peak view to the right of Hudson Valley
[  3.55]  Windham High Peak view to the left of Blackhead Range; retrace
[  6.30]  At intersection keep straight on blue when red goes right
               *** turn right on red back to parking lot for 7.3 mile hike ***
[  6.65]  Side trail to right to view of Burnt Knob and Windham High Peak
[  7.00]  Acra High Point view to left at rock outcrop as trail turns sharply right
[  8.95]  Turn right on yellow when blue goes straight
[  9.15]  Batavia Kill shelter on right
[  9.85]  Cross Batavia Kill, yellow trail ends, turn right on red trail towards Big Hollow Road
[  9.95]  Cross damaged bridge (stable enough for crossing)
[10.35]  Cross new bridge; sign out at trail register
[10.50]  Back at parking lot