Queen of the Catskills

Mount Sherrill (again) 5.2 miles Elevation Gain: 1775 ft. After last weekend’s failed attempt at locating the bus, Deborah and I felt like we had some unfinished business on Sherrill, so we went back. Armed with some additional intel, we arrived at Shaft Rd. at about 3:15. There was only one car in the lot versus a pretty full lot last weekend.  On the way up we hit mud at around 1500-1800 ft (same as last weekend). We also encountered some 3500 Club members on the way up as well (just like last weekend). We stopped and chatted for a while and told them our plans to find the bus. They had just come back from hitting Sherrill and North Dome. We were really efficient this time around. It was pretty fast up the logging road / herd path. We took it as far as we could and then turned up onto the spine at around 2400 feet. We followed a faint herd path in and out up the center of the spine and turned for the south shoulder at around 3200 feet. We had read that there was an old woods road...

Mount Sherrill 6.4 miles The Shaft parking lot was poppin’ this afternoon at around 2pm. But since it’s a bushwhack hike, I knew I’d probably still be in solitude for most of the way. The first time I did these bushwhacks, they were true bushwhacks, as I rarely found the herd paths on the way up. Now, I have a better sense of where to go and realize just how many old logging roads and herd paths there are. The logging road up Sherrill was such a gorgeous hike. At around 1500 feet there were a few super muddy spots—like sink in above your ankle mud. But then the rest of the trail was dry. The only minor inconvenience was the leaves made for slippery conditions on the way down. However, the fall colors at the top made it worthwhile. On the way up we met Sarah and Tracy who we know from the hiking groups. I love seeing online friends in real life. We chatted for a bit and went on to try and find the abandoned bus on Sherrill. I have fantasies of pulling a Chris McCandless and giving up ...