We left the house at 8 am this morning. It was a cool zero degrees out. By the time we got to North-South Lake it was 13 degrees. We arrive around 9 am. The parking lot was almost empty. I took my very cold boots out of the truck and put them on. Boy were they cold.
Our plan was to hike across South Lake to the beach. Then we would hike up to the old Catskill Mountain House. Then we would hike up to the 3rd ledge and follow it to the old Hotel Carriage Road. Then we would follow it on the west side to the end.
This is our hike across the lake. Half way across the lake we ran into the only other people in the North-South Lake region. 3 local people ice fishing. Real nice group of people. Had a nice conversation with them. Their dog was equally happy to get a little attention. We continued across the lake
After leaving the Catskill Mountain House, we headed up the trail. The ranger had been there to 2 days ago. Once we registered, we headed up the trail. After about 100' we left the trail and moved from the 1st ledge to the 2nd ledge by the old water tower.
Near the top of the ledge we hit deep snow drifts. At the top of the 2nd Ledge, we hit saw where the wind had sweep the ground almost clean.
In this picture, we were headed from the 2nd Ledge up to the 3rd ledge. In the near distance, is Puddingstone Hall. The snow drift were 5 feet deep.
This is Alexis climbing up the section with no snow. But, just above it was deep and difficult snow.
Okay, here is another difficult section of snow in Puddingstone Hall. Once above this point, we would arrive on the 3rd ledge
A section of the 3rd ledge trail that runs right next to the ledge. No goof up here!
This is a picture of the view point on the east side of the 3rd ledge trail. The hole at the bottom is a crack in the ledge with a 20' fall. So jumping over this area is important
This is the horseshoe turn on the old Kaaterskill Hotel Carriage Road. We then headed up the hill for a couple hundred feet to continue on the west side of the 3rd ledge trail.
Part of the west side of the 3rd ledge trail.
Alexis coming out of the end of the 3rd ledge trail
We then head up the cross-country ski trail
Alexis coming up the cross-country ski trail
The other side of the cross country ski trail
This is a topo map of the hike
The hike was 3.34 miles long. We spend about 3 hours out in the wood. Not really in a hurry, and we had a great time.