TRAILMARKER Newsletter of the Adirondack Mountain Club – Iroquois Chapter Established in 1972 September/October, 2020 Elm Lake, photo credit: Dave Pisaneschi Chairman’s Corner In referencing past chairman corners, I noted that there is one recurring theme: the need to have more volunteers to lead trips in addition to just me or members from other chapters. More trip leaders will offer a variety of excursions, such as bike, kayak, and hiking, suitable for all levels. The basis of the ADK is outdoor education, conservation, recreation. Sadly, the chapter is not carrying any weight concerning our trip schedule, which is disconcerting. Should you be an active outdoor enthusiast, please consider leading a trip for the Iroquois chapter. Please give me a ring to discuss further should you have any concerns or questions. Know that your help would be most appreciated. The directors from the First Baptist Church have given us permission to have meetings in the hall, providing we socially distant among ourselves. There will be the usual business meeting followed by a program. Snacks will be provided, along the line of individually wrapped bars or fruit, for example. As part of the business meeting, Wendy Sanders will present her idea for sponsoring a chapter challenge, with a vote to expend chapter funds should the concept be accepted. Her proposal is within the confines of this newsletter for your perusal. I encourage your attendance and participation in this matter. Trailmarker Page 2 Iroquois Chapter September/October, 2020 Chairman’s Corner continued: In thinking out loud, (with no immediate plan of action) and due to the Covid situation, I am toying with changing monthly meetings to bi-monthly meetings, especially if attendance is poor for the September meeting. That meeting will give me a rough idea as to which way to proceed, subject to executive committee input and approval. As I ponder the future, I suspect that the annual Christmas dinner will be postponed as well as Weizel Cabin weekend, again subject to executive committee discretion. Enough said. I hope to see you at the September meeting, or if not, perhaps on the trail. Stay healthy and cool. Paul Sirtoli SEPTEMBER PROGRAM Tuesday, September 8, 2020 First Baptist Church, New Hartford, NY Brian Washburn will talk on his Mt. Kilimanjaro climb. A SUMMER FULL OF FUN Twin and Indian Head, Catskills June 21, 2020, Father’s Day Well I’m still on track to climb a mountain every month in 2020. This was my 6th Father’s Day Climb since 2013. Two years were Rained out. I decided to climb Twin and Indian Head Saturday night. The drive ‘Getting There’ was almost as eventful as the climb, itself. I took the Thruway to Saugerties (exit 20). I traveled west to Platte Clove. This is the entrance to a very popular area (Take a look on Wikipedia. For some interesting information). The road is seasonal with no winter maintenance. Not a problem, in summer, BUT it was still a challenge. The road was barely 2 lanes wide. The average lane width was less than 8’, with a lot of drop offs, on the south side and cliffs on the right (north). On this section of the road, I encountered a rather LARGE Pick-up Truck. Good thing I was in my wife’s car, because my mirrors were actually under the trucks mirrors, with about 6 feet of overlap. My right Trailmarker Page 3 Iroquois Chapter September/October, 2020 Twin and Indian Head (continued) went down a few hundred feet then rose to 3667’ at the summit. I continued to a Flat Rock lookout tire was on the very edge of the shoulder (where with super views of Sugarloaf & Plateau. This is there was a one foot drop off, to the ditch. There where I ate my lunch. Back on the trail again was a steep drop off on the truck’s passenger side, with not much different backtracking to Jimmy which is probably why it took most of the Dolans Notch. Except for that balancing rock, I road. This road winded around for about 3 miles, took a brief break at the intersection, then began before I hit Platte Clove. About ½ mile later I hit my trek up Indian Head. This trail had the same the left turn onto Prediger Rd, leading to the trail type of rocks as Twin. With a few more vertical head. sections. I hit the viewless summit and then took I changed into my climbing boots and then I was a short trip searching for a lookout. When the on the trail. There were 4 groups just ahead of me, trail suddenly descended about 50’, I decided to as I signed the register. Only 2 of those groups back track to the Notch. Other than the climb, stopped to signed in. The well-established (RED) itself, there wasn’t much noteworthy. It was the trail was fairly level for quite a while. At the loop same the rest of the way down. But I did look forward to the creek crossing, where I could again intersection, I took the right fork (Blue Trail) dip my bandana in the cold water. I was back at toward Jimmy Dolan Notch. The hardwood forest the trail head before long. I changed out of my was fairly open. After about 1 mile, the trail got boots and put on a clean dry shirt and headed steeper with a lot of rocks to climb over and home, back the way I came. around. After about 1 ½ miles I stopped at a very small water crossing to wet my bandana and wipe Submitted by Ed Kobos the sweat off my forehead. It was cold and very refreshing. According to my GPS, I had traveled 1.82 miles as I hit the col between Indian Head and Twin Mountains (3120’). There was a short trail, south, with some nice views. I decided to take the trail to Twin Mountains, first. After a few minutes I hit a large balancing slab of rock. It looked like it was originally on the side of its foundation. I wondered how long ago it was moved there. There were many short technical climbs, none of which were more than 10’ tall. I enjoyed the extra challenges. There was a lookout with a good view looking south, where I could see a tall fire tower in the distance. I believe it was Tremper. I climbed a little bit more and found a group of boulders to my right. This is where I believe the real summit of south Twin Mt. is located at 3596’. It was the highest point around so, I guess it was it. Just around the corner (< ¼ mile) was another flat rock lookout with great 270-degree views. I took a few Above photo (Balancing rock) pictures, then headed for Twin (north). This trail Photo credit: Ed Kobos Trailmarker Page 4 Iroquois Chapter September/October, 2020 Mt. Sherrill and North Dome Mt North Dome. There were a few herd paths. The July 5, 2020 1st one I took went NO WHERE. Probably looking for a view. Backtracked to the summit This was my 7th month, in 2020, with at least 1 and took another path. This one was promising as it headed in the correct direction. The Herd Path mountain climb. This was a HARD Hike/Climb, disappeared, every now and again. I bushwhacked from the SW. I started at the DEC Parking Lot on using my GPS and compass toward the North Shaft Rd., just off of Rt 42, ~3.25 miles south of Dome summit. There was a lot of ground cover Spruceton Rd. I parked in the lot and followed the similar to my ascent of Sherrill. I had to avoid dirt road toward the "Off Limits" water supply land. I some cliffs and blow down. I did descend to the jumped into the woods, to the NE and then followed shallow col between the mountains, before ascending to the summit of North Dome. I had to the utility poles, until I saw remnants of a rock wall. I avoid blow down and the prickly plants. There headed toward it, then took a bearing toward Sherrill. were some wet areas in the col, so I took many The Bee Line distance was .76 miles. I heading NE detours. I hit a very good herd path only about 50 for a while and hit an 'old' farm road and followed it yards from the canister. The flies were still bad, "UP", until I lost contact with it, due to the overgrown but I decided to try and eat my lunch anyway. I patches of 'stinging' nettles, raspberry bushes and kept everything in my zip lock bags until the last other ground vegetation. I used my GPS & Compass second before entering my mouth. After signing in and taking a few selfies of me and the trees, I to continue toward the summit of Sherrill. There headed back to Sherrill, and then back to the were many cliffs and steep sections that followed the trailhead. reentrant, UP. I tried to 'go around' all the prickly The return trip was a bit better as there were a few things, which added to the distance and time to more visible herd paths on the south side of the summit. I don't advise taking this route, in the ridge. When I returned to Sherrill, I contemplated summer. After a while (actually ~ 1.5 Hrs.) I hit the heading to the 'other' Balsam Mt. I bagged the ridge and took another bearing and headed toward Mt.