"#24 #25: Snowmobile trail to Bearpen was straightforward. Blue blazed trail to Vly was more fun, glad I did it last. A couple small scrambles up to Vly. No views at either peak." — alexmenziesparkadam • Dec 6, 2025

"Did a mixed bag of peaks with friends Tom R, Tom M, Tony and Danielle. Started off with BP and Vly out of Johnson Hollow(Rt 3). Tom M brought his magic car( Subie Solterra) and drove the five of us up to the col with the hunters cabin. This saved us the monotonous walk up and down the gravel road. Next up Halcott on our way out of the hollow. Doing Halcott from the “backside”( a small PA off Elk Creek road) is a nice change from the usual PA in deep notch on Rt 42. An easy whack especially once most of the climbing is done. A good herd path has been established right to the canister. Finally we head over to Mill Brook road PA for a stroll up to the fire tower atop BLM. A leisurely sit-down at the picnic table ensued with snacks and bevs." — Nimblefoot • Aug 19, 2025

"Met Mimi at the end of CR 3, which was recently resurfaced, to stroll up to the canister on Vly then over to Bearpen before heading back. The recent heat wave has dried up the usual wet spots fairly well on the final road section to BP. Heavy haze blocked the usual views. To finish our day we headed over to Mill Brook road TH to take a stroll up to the canister on BLM. Surprisingly for a Monday the PA was almost full, I got one the last spots. With our late start and casual pace everyone else was heading out so we basically had the summit to ourselves. Second day in a row where I’m heading home after 6 pm and getting home close to 9pm. " — Nimblefoot • Aug 4, 2025

"Hiking leftover peaks with Tom2 and Susan on a day that started off dry but threatening then gradually got very wet before it cleared up and turned sunny. We started off with Vly and Bearpen out of Johnson Hollow on Co Rt 3. Now soaking wet Susan headed straight to BLM to finish her day while Tom and I stopped off at the PA on Elk Creek road to do Halcott from the back door so to speak. We actually donned rain pants for this venture as protection from the nettles and other soaking wet vegetation. The sky gradually cleared so it was a treat to get out of the rain gear when we returned to the car. Now Tom and I head to BLM to finish our day passing Susan heading home near the Belleayre ski area on Rt 49a. Not surprising we had the trail and peak to ourselves. A highlight of the day was meeting three friends, Chris with dog Misty and Victoria and Rick, then spending a half hour hanging out under the porch roof of the hunters cabin. We caught up on everyones life while waiting for the rain storm to pass. " — Nimblefoot • Jun 9, 2025

"Ginseng Candy and I enjoyed a casual saunter of Vly and Bearpen mountains to open our single season spring round. We used our micro spikes in a few spots on the herd path to Vly then they stayed on the pack the rest of the hike." — Nimblefoot • Mar 22, 2025

"Hiked Vly and Bearpen with Tom2 and Rebecca out of Johnson Hollow. We carried snowshoes but only used micro spikes the whole way. There were some deep/drifty spots where we could have used the ‘shoes but the spots were very short and not worth spending the time switching. We experienced a variety of weather from overcast to blue sky and sun then back to cloudy with snow flurries only to go back to sunny and so on. Rebecca headed to Tannersville to spend time at the Snowed Inn while Tom2 and I headed to the Halcott PA on Rt 42. Again we carried snowshoes but found a solid packed track all the way to the canister so only used the spikes. A short day so I had p,entry of time to do some food shopping, get the car washed and visit my parents in Dutchess County before heading to home in Westchester." — Nimblefoot • Feb 4, 2025

"Back to Vly and Bearpen for the Fall season then a quick saunter up to the tower on Balsam Lake mountain, also for Fall, on my way to Red Hill fire tower. Took the newer and longer trail to Red Hill as the trailhead came up first and it is a more pleasant hike than coming up from Dinch road. On the final ascent I met a gentleman descending from the tower that looked familiar. As we neared each other he “asked if I was on Balsam Lake today”? Yup and so was he but with a different shirt on. Turns out he is working on the ADK Fire Tower challenge and spending a few days getting the five in the Catskills. Red Hill completes round #12 of the Catskill FT challenge and I “needed” for the month of September. Still need the months of October and December. A three hike/three shirt day with two towers and one canister only seeing a few others on BLM and Red Hill. Enjoying the fine Fall weather, leaves are already falling and occasionally slippery." — Nimblefoot • Sep 30, 2024

"Easy sauntering day with Tom M. Day 3 of 7 straight days he’s hiking to complete a round of the Catskill 35 and finishing his 7th 420 Grid( 2940 35Rs)on the 7th day. Friggin showoff(!), though it helps to actually live in the Catskills rather than be 2 hrs away. I got day #351 out of 366 of our 35R Everyday challenge, still 9 days behind Tom(#360/366). After meeting Tom in downtown Fleischmans he drove us up to the Hunters cabin between Vly and BP in his plug-in Subie. One other hiker was out doing the peaks, that we know, but we never crossed paths. I’m sure he had a time jump on us as we didn’t started until 8:45 as this was a semi- rest day for Tom. Up to the canister on Vly via the usual herd path then over to BP summit via the road with the herd path shortcut in between. Two and a half hours later we were back to the Subie, for a second time, and off to Mill Brook road PA for our final peak of the day. At the small lot on Mill Brook road there was one car in the lot that was actually parked the wrong way, parallel will the road rather than more perpendicular which makes better use of the space. We commenced on a saunter up the road/trail to the tower shortly after 12 noo..." — Nimblefoot • Sep 3, 2024

"Tom R., Rebecca, Tom M. and I did a buffet of four peaks starting with Vly/Bearpen out of Johnson Hollow followed by BLM from Mill Brook rd and finishing with Halcott from Rt 42. A bit of a sweat-fest bookended with peaks having canisters. Tom M. graciously drove us up to the hunters cabin in his Subie saving us the road walk twice. Recent rains really did a number on the road, less packed down than usual. The shade near the tower on BLM offered a nice respite for an early lunch break, though it didn’t seem early when one has breakfast at 4:30 in the AM. Little Halcott was the toughest climb right in the brunt of the mid-afternoon heat and bright sun. Thanks to Rebecca we devoured a large bowl of chilled watermelon cut up in bite-size pieces right before our final climb. Got to get your liquids any way you can." — Nimblefoot • Jul 8, 2024

"Tony invited the four of us to join him in a hike of Bearpen and Vly in order to complete his single season Spring round of the Cat 35. Besides the Spring triangle patch he also earned his Four in a Row patch(Summer’23 to Spring’24) from Hikers Anonymous. Fortunately Tom was willing to drive us up the road to the Hunters cabin. After a short chat we headed up to the Bearpen summit then onto the furthest view looking west. Back to the cabin for another chat then onto the canister on Vly where Tom presented Tony with his patches and a Four in a Row t-shirt both of which were a total surprise. Tony surprised us with homemade cookies and brownies from his wife…yummy! Back to our cars, seeing very few other hikers, to eat our lunch while drive up to the Mill Brook road TH. Here we expected meet two more hikers, Marguerite ( aka Itty Bitty ) and her friend Doug from NH who was visiting for a few days. We were early so we headed and hung out on the fire tower to get in the cooling wind and out of the black flies. Tony surprised with another container of the same treats keeping us fed as we waited. Upon their arrival and climb of the tower we took more group photos then headed back t..." — Nimblefoot • May 21, 2024