catskill mountains

Slide Mountain

I decided it was a nice day out, and I wanted to be able to say I had gone up to the tallest peak in the Catskills, at 4,180 feet. According to Wikipedia, it may actually be somewhat taller then that (as much as 4,200 feet), but they’ve never done a bench mark on the top of it.

The first part of the trail is fairly steep.

Continuing Downhill

It climbs up to an old woods road, that is an easy walk and relatively flat, as it goes up to the Curtis-Olsbee Trail. You see the split between the old Jeep trail up Slide Mountain, and the the trail to Curstis-Olsmbee.

Slide Mountain Options

The trail crosses a high footbridge, without rails. It once was a full-size bridge for vechicles, but no more.

Foot Bridge

Reaching a historic marker of Curtis-Olmsbee Trail.

Curtis-Olmsbee Winds Uphill Slowly

You climb, and then there are some places with views to South and West as you continue along. A few moderately steep places, but overall the trail is not super-steep.

Views to the South

The trail once you reach the first couple of views, remains relatively flat as you wander past several swamps and borreal forests.

Borreal Forest

When you reach almost the top there is a point where you can see almost 70 named peaks.

Trees and Mountains

Enjoying the mountains.

Texature

The top of the mountain is John Broughs Point. It has some interesting, partial views to the north and east.

Pinnacle of Slide

Remembering John Bouroughs

The Ashokan Reservior from Slide Mountain.

Asokahan Reservoir

An established, primative campsite about 3/4 the way down the mountain or one mile from the Slide Mountain Parking Area.

Camp Over This Way

Campsite

By the time I left, the parking lot was packed.

Packed Parking Lot at Noontime

Here is a map of the route I took.


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