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Hikefest at Mountain Top Historical Society

October 12, 2019 @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

In Association with the Catskills Lark in the  Park:  MTHS presents Hikefest 2019: Hikes with History

Saturday October 12 9:00am – 3:00pm

On Saturday, October 12, 2019 The Mountain Top Historical Society’s Haines Falls campus will be the place to begin your Columbus Day Weekend. Starting in the KRT parking lot behind the Visitor’s Center on Route 23A, there will be 4 hikes to choose from varying in difficulty and points of interest around the area. The day will finish with a BBQ lunch from 1-3 pm at the MTHS’s historic U&D Train Station. Hikes are free, pre-registration required. $10 per person for BBQ lunch, all proceeds to MTHS.

Hike # 1: Rip Van Winkle Hike – Join geologist Bob Titus in a moderate, 2 mile hike to Sunset Rock above North Lake. Along the way he will point out Devonian stratigraphy and Ice Age history while telling the tale of Rip Van Winkle, stopping at sites that closely match those described by Washington Irving. Meet at KRT Parking Lot at 9 am to car pool to North Lake.

Hike # 2: Historic Survey of North-South Lake – The area of North-South Lake has been home to various business, railroad, and recreational sites. Pete Senterman and Paul La Pierre will lead this easy 2 mile journey with possible side trip to the Catskill Mountain House Site.  Meet at KRT Parking Lot at 9 am to car pool to North Lake.

Hike # 3: Elka Park Colosseum: Join Nancy Allen on this easy to moderate 3 ½ mile hike through the historic community of Elka Park along a dirt road to the Park’s Colosseum (reservoir).Meet at the KRT Parking Lot at 9 am to car pool to Elka Park.

Hike # 4: Sphinx Rock and the Sofa on Prospect Mountain – Bob Gildersleeve will lead this approximately 2.5 mile easy to moderate hike starting from MTHS’ s U&D train station partially following along the Kaaterskill Rail Trail and using old woods roads and a short bushwhack to the ledge above Molly Smith’s parking area. Here we will look down on the location of Sphinx Rock. Nearby is a natural bench once called the sofa, and a unique view taking in Kaaterskill Clove, Kaaterskill Falls, and across the clove, Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top. A natural ramp can take us to the ledge on which the Sphinx rests for a close-up view.

If hikers wish, we may also have time to visit the platform at Kaaterskill Falls and be back for the BBQ at 1:00. Meet at the MTHS’s U&D Train Station at 9 am.

All Hikes:

Registration Required by Weds. October 9.  For questions and registration, Email at mthsdirector@mths.org or call (518) 589-6657. Please leave your name, phone number, number of participants in your party, which hike you’d like to join and if you intend to stay for the BBQ lunch.

Bring: something to drink, good hiking shoes.

Group size limited to 12 so register early.

Fee: Optional donation/membership encouraged for hike participants

$ 10/person for lunch

Dogs allowed: No

Questions about this event may be directed to: mthsdirector@mths.org or (518) 589-6657

Directions: From the North – Exit 21, I-87 NYS Thruway. Make left onto Rt 23B, follow signs to Route 23. Travel 5.5 miles, left at McDonald’s onto Route 32S. Take Route 32 seen miles to traffic light at Route 23A. Right onto Rt. 23A, go 4.5 miles up the mountain. MTHS Campus on right, KRT parking lot directly behind the Visitor’s Center.

From the South – Exit 20, I-87 NYS Thruway. Left at exit then right onto Rt. 32 for six miles. Bear left at NY 32A (blinking light) then left onto Rt. 23A (at the light). 4.5 miles up the mountain. MTHS Campus on right, KRT parking lot directly behind the Visitor’s Center.

GPS coordinates:  42.194892, -74.092430

Details

Date:
October 12, 2019
Time:
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Event Categories:
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Organizer

MTHS
Website:
http://mths.org/

Venue

Mountain Top Historical Society
5132 NY-23A
Haines Falls, NY 12436 United States
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