"Eagle and Balsam on an out and back hike from Rider Hollow PA with Tom2, Susan and Tony. Susan and Tony couldn’t maintain the same pace as Tom and I plus the fact we were doing Balsam Lake afterwards they suggested we split into two groups. We would meet them on our return from each peak before dropping down to the PA. Short drive from Rider Hollow to Mill Brook road PA where we found an unplowed lot and about six cars parking the wrong way. These folks foolishly parked parallel to the road rather than perpendicular which allows at least twice as many cars to park. Fortunately they left within a short period of time so we could park and meet up with our good friend Rebecca. She is returning from a month off from a sprained ankle and did Halcott beforehand. She is 70 yrs young with the drive and energy of a 30 yr old, very inspiring. The road/trail is great for a chat filled hike to the tower. After a climb up the frost covered stairs and railing to get some photo ops we headed back anxious to start the weekend and rest up for a big hike on Monday. Spikes all day with snowshoes carried on the E and B hike but not on the BL hike. On BL would have been nice just for efficiency ..." — Nimblefoot • Jan 17, 2025

"Wore the snowshoes from trailhead back to trailhead. Came in from Rider Hollow, a few inches at the parking area and 18-24" across the summit ridge. The trail was broken out up and across to Balsam, but not over to Eagle. It was a fun afternoon of breaking trail to Eagle. I will sleep well tonight." — Right-On • Nov 24, 2024

"A loop of Eagle and Balsam from the McKenley Hollow trailhead. Took the usual woods road/bushwhack up to Eagle rather than the trail(s)then planned to whack down from the Balsam summit rock to the O-M trail and out to change things up a bit. Once I hit Balsam and chatted with a couple and their 4 dogs I mindlessly went down the trails out of habit. Probably I good thing as the fallen leaves would have made the whack down rather slippery putting more strain on aching knees. To finish up the day I headed over to Red Hill to ascend to the fire tower via the newer trail. The PA is quite small and managed to get the last parking spot literally only minutes before the next car arrived. Since it was Friday and the tail end of Fall colors I was not surprised. Fortunately the day warmed up nicely, like normal early Fall, so I was able switch to shorts. Such a relief for the 4 mile round trip. This hike completed my monthly grid of Red Hill and ironically October looks like the most popular month to hike Red Hill." — Nimblefoot • Oct 18, 2024

"The two Tom’s and I did the infamous Biscuits and Gravy hike of Hikers Anonymous. This time we changed the start point from Burnham Hollow PA to Maben Hollow road. We parked right at the beginning of the road, off Rt 47, in a spot on the left side that would hold two or three cars. After saying Good Morning to a gentleman who was just coming back from a dog walk we sauntered down the dirt road passed the gentleman’s house then straight onto an old woods road. For some reason there was a chain across the road and the easement sign was missing, most likely more hikers are using this approach to Fir and the locals are noticing. Nav is straight forward, follow the road then up top begin to “bend” to your left eventually hitting one of the numerous herd paths. The saunter over to Big Indian is quite easy with the numerous herd paths. Tom R. was setting a blistering hiking pace so we were over to the canister in short order. Next Tom M. led the whack from the can on BI to the P-W trail then straight onto the herd path towards S-DT climbing Pigeon Peak on the way. Just over 3hrs for the round trip to the Doubletop alternative…ugh! Back on the P-W trail now it’s a straightforward sau..." — Nimblefoot • Aug 5, 2024

"Eight of us started out from the Burnham Hollow TH around 5:45 to do a Biscuits and Gravy hike. A traverse of Fir, Big Indian, Eagle and Balsam with an out and back to South Doubletop between Big Indian and Eagle. Susan opted out of doing S-DT so as to not over stress her recent knee replacement. After getting to the summit of S-DT Mimi treated us to one homemade Kimchi pancake then at the canister on Eagle we got another one or two pancakes. With the nearly 4 hr out and back whack to S-DT behind us the trail miles went by quicker and easier. At the summit obelisk rock on Balsam, our final peak, Victoria and Rick completed their Spring round of the 35 thereby earning their 4-in-a-Row patch from Hikers Anonymous ( 4 single season rounds in a row)." — Nimblefoot • Jun 10, 2024

"A total trail hike of Eagle and Balsam out of McKenley Hollow PA. Nearly 20* warmer today versus yesterday( 35*/52*) at 7am. Definitely quite warm today, bringing out the black flies, confirmed by the two other hikers I met today. Neither water crossing was a problem as the water levels are going down with the warmer temps and lack of serious rains. Numerous blowdowns on the trail between Haynes and Eagle that blocking the trail, need to get the maintainers out to take of them." — Nimblefoot • May 14, 2024

"Loop of Eagle and Balsam from McKenley Hollow PA. Bushwhack up to Eagle canister, trail between the peaks, bushwhack down to the leanto and trail out to car. Barely any snow on the ground at the car then up to 8-10 inches up high on Eagle then less on Balsam. Snowshoes were left in the car to save weight hoping to get by without them but they would have added some efficiency. " — Nimblefoot • Jan 12, 2024

"Loop of Eagle and Balsam from McKinley Hollow PA with Mimi and Rebecca. Started with the old woods road/bushwhack just beyond the bridge and trail register box then trails the remainder of the day. The summit of Balsam completed my Single season Fall round of the Cat35." — Nimblefoot • Dec 9, 2023

"Back to the FirBBiE with Richard on another wet soggy day. Whacked up to Fir from Burnham Hollow road then sauntered over Big Indian using the herd path(s). Leaving BI we took the right exit herd path to hit the P-W trail up the trail a ways and began to dry out as we headed over to the canister on Eagle. Onto the summit obelisk on Balsam before dropping down to McKenley Hollow road. The sun kept trying to break through the thick cloud cover and haze but it just couldn’t do it." — Nimblefoot • Jul 2, 2023

"Richard, Johnny and I did the infamous Catskill FirBBie from Burnham Hollow PA to McKenley Hollow PA. Plenty of clouds accompanied with some occasional breezes but no bugs or heat for our traverse of Fir to Balsam mountain. Wet whack up to Fir do to all the wet vegetation thanks to the previous days rain that drifted into the wee hours of today. Extra layers and even gloves were eventually donned by our leader Richard, aka Easy Way, who was getting the brunt of the wetness and wind. I, aka Monkey Shines, stayed in the rear wearing shorts and a T as bare skin dries faster than fabric…the original Gore-Tex as it breathes, it’s waterproof and as a added bonus it repairs itself. We all dried out as we cruised the herd path highway to Big Indian. From there we took the “easy way” out to the P-W trail for the wonderful stroll to Eagle, over Haynes and onto Balsam." — Nimblefoot • Jun 15, 2023