slide mountain

Giant Ledge, October 2009

Giant Ledge is a relatively flat hill located on the ridge between Slide Mountain and Panther Mountain. It can be accessed from the Giant Ledge Parking Area, off of hairpin turn on Slide Mountain Road.

When Thanksgiving Falls, 2000 to 2099

Giant Ledge Parking Area

I went hiking on Columbus Day, a little past peak foliage system after spending two nights camping out in Schoharie County. It is a short hike.

Short Hike to the Ledge

Here is cute little bridge that goes over an unamed creek, running down the northern face of Slide Mountain.

Bridge

After a moderately steep 3/4 mile hike, you reach the “pass” that goes between Slide Mountain and Panther Mountain. This portion is relatively flat, until you reach the last 150 feet of elevation gain, to reach the top of Giant Ledge.

Plateau

Here is Slide Mountain, peaking through the trees as your going up to the last bit to Giant Ledge.

Slide Mountain

Looking off Giant Ledge, towards Woodlawn Valley (in the colorful foreground), with Plateau Mountain, Twin Mountain, Indian Head Mountain, and in the middle, Tremper Mountain.

 Colors

Here is the Wittenberg and Cornell Mountains.

Wittenberg and Cornell Mountains

This is the Woodlawn Valley’s beautiful colors.

Part of the trail runs right along the edge.

Trail Along the Edge

Off the main blue trail on Giant Ledge, there are two campsites at are primative, but nice. This also leads to a trail with views of the Big Indian Valley

Camp Here

Here is the second of two designated campsites on Giant Ledge. There are no campsites on Panther Mountain, which is too high to allow camping. There also is camping on the lower portion Slide Mountain, minus the wonderful views.

Campsite 2

After you hike across the trail to the campsites, there is another short little trail that runs over to a viewpoint with views of Big Indian Mountain, and the Big Indian Valley (where Slide Mountain Road runs).

Across the Potamac River to West VIrigina [Expires November 12 2023]

From here, I hiked up Panther Mountain. Here is a map of the hike.


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Panther Mountain

The same day I visited Giant Ledge, I also hiked up Panther Mountain. Panther Mountain is about 750 feet higher then Giant Ledge, and is one of the high peaks, at an elevation over 3,500.

Hiking

Portions of the trail are made up of rock stairs up the mountain. Other parts you climbed up rocks, but nothing too steep.

Stairs

Along the trail in full color.

Color on the Trail

Interesting swamp with the ferns a bright yellow color.

Rock and Marsh

A top the mountain, one of the first views is on top of a boulder.

First Good View off Panther

The Panther Summit is at 3,720 feet.

Panther Summit

One of the best views off the mountain was how clear Indian Head Mountain looks from off of Panther Mountain.

Indian Head

Off the trail, there is this cute little cave.

Cute Little Cave

Looking into the Woodlawn Valley.

Berries

Mountains through the valley, looking off of Panther Mountain.

Mountains

Here is map of hike.


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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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