Eagle Mountain

"A trifecta of peaks on a beautiful day with a blue sky overhead and some early white fluff underfoot. Time to switch out the trail runners for boots and gaiters as we enter a new ice and snow season. Some icy patches to avoid on my way up and over Giant Ledge and onto Panther. A few slips and slides on my return kept me alert to my footing. On GL I started meeting the incoming weekend crowd so it was no surprise to find the parking lot at the hairpin curve overflowing. Dropped down to McKenley Hollow PA, hoping to find a spot to park, had lunch in the car then headed up to do E & B. Fewer hikers and deeper snow encountered compared to Panther. Following footprints out to Eagle from today but the hiker(s) turned around literally five minutes from the herd path to the new canister. It was a shame to get that close and not get the peak- oh well. Back over to the col and up to the obelisk on Balsam then a speedy descent to the PA before darkness fell. " — Nimblefoot • Nov 9, 2019

"An out and back hike of Balsam and Eagle to complete my second summer round and earn a second single season triangle patch. Quite the encampment at the Rider Hollow lean-to plus a couple of tents just down the trail, regular “campers” spending the weekend in the park." — Nimblefoot • Sep 20, 2019

"Seven of us did a traverse of Fir, Big Indian, Eagle and Balsam from Burnham Hollow road to Rider Hollow. We had a rather wet start that only got worse the closer to Fir we got then once we hit the canister the rain amazingly ceased. We actually had pieces of blue sky and sun peeking out at us on our way over to Big Indian where we celebrated a Yong Ae’s completion of a single season summer Cat 35. After a tasty Korean banquet complete with table cloth we dropped down to the P-W trail and headed for Eagle. Our first time signing into the new canister. On Balsam Christy and I celebrated our completion of a single season summer and received our triangle patch. Down at the Rider Hollow leanto three friends, Anna, Connie and Jim, prepared hot dogs/buns with sauerkraut and baked beans, beverages, big soft pretzels and brownies. A glorious day once the rain stopped two hours into our hike, walking our clothes dry all day." — Nimblefoot • Sep 2, 2019

"Tom and I did a traverse of Eagle, Balsam and Belleayre mountains starting at the Seager PA. Balsam marked the completion of my single season Spring of the Catskill 35 receiving my triangle patch at the summit obelisk. After a leisurely lunch at the view further up the trail we finished the day by visiting the summit of Belleayre then dropping down to the upper lot of the ski area. We rendezvoused with Tom’s wife Anna at Five Guys in Kingston to enjoy some burgers and fries." — Nimblefoot • Jun 9, 2019

"Tom, Miyon, Miyon, Tim, Christy and I did a loop of Fir, Big Indian and Eagle from Burnham Hollow road. After celebrating Christy’s W35 finish on BI we followed a track down to the P-W trail and were pleasantly surprised to find the trail broken toward Eagle. An easy trek to our final peak of the day then down the trail a bit further to our jump off point for a whack down to Burnham Hollow road. As we descended the snow became more supportive then slowly disappeared with more bare ground showing do to southern exposure." — Nimblefoot • Mar 9, 2019

"Seven of us did a loop of Fir, Big Indian and Eagle mountains from Barnum Hollow road. We have been breaking trail the whole way but now it’s a bit easier on a marked trail,the P-W, and the snow is less deep compared to the stretch between Fir and Big Indian mountains. Unbeknownst to us we were silently joined by Mike S. who was doing the same loop as us but started hours after us. Mike is a fellow gridder and more importantly the record holder of doing the Cat 35 in one continuous hike...the Directissima. He graciously agreed to break trail the rest of the way to Eagle and hung out for some chit chat at the summit cairn. When he started to get a bit chilly he headed out and said he would try to break a nice track down the ridge to Barnum Hollow road for us. In deed it was nice which made it quite relaxing,on our somewhat tired legs, to return to our cars. Three of us rendezvoused to Oakley’s for pizza before heading home and prepping for tomorrow’s hike. " — Nimblefoot • Feb 2, 2019

"we decided to head to the CATS to complete two more peaks toward our 35 - Balsam and Eagle. The day was going to be easy with just over 8 miles and ~2700' of gain - so we decided to add a little fun at the end...." — deb-and-rob • Jan 27, 2019

"It was a windy and snowy day in which to tackle a Belleayre, Balsam, and Eagle "Loop" from Rider Hollow. First I hiked over to the summit of Belleayre, acting like I belonged as several skiers gave curiously looks. Then to Balsam, where it seemed everyone and their uncle was out snagging the required winter 35 while the snowpack is low, and finally I battled several snow squalls over to a desolate Eagle, enjoying the solitude along the way." — Right-On • Jan 6, 2019

"Did a loop of Eagle and Balsam from McKenley Hollow. To keep the mileage down we took the old woods road as access to the east ridge. After a short climb to the ridge proper it was an easy stroll to the PW trail where we took a left turn and walked up to the path leading to the summit cairn. Bright blue sky overhead and a light layer of fluff on top of crusty snow underfoot. Started off bare booting then put on the microspikes for grip on the ascent and finally snowshoes above 3000’ when we kept breaking through the crust. " — Nimblefoot • Dec 19, 2018

"Tom, Steve and I did a nice traverse of Fir, Big Indian and Eagle from Rt 47 to Burnham Hollow PA. From the can on Big Indian we did a shortcut whack to the P-W trail, to save on elevation loss, then Tom surprisingly led a brisk pace over to the lonely summit cairn on Eagle. After a lunch break we continued on the P-W a short distance to our jump off point for an easy whack down to Burnham Hollow Road." — Nimblefoot • Aug 30, 2018

"Quick hike of Eagle and a Balsam to finish up the month of June, the 11th month of my second grid. Met Alan Via and his dog Toby in the col between Balsam and Haynes. We chatted about peakbagging and his two forthcoming books, on Little peaks and dog hikes, before I continued on to Eagle and he to Balsam. " — Nimblefoot • Jun 11, 2018

"Our 5th peak of a crazy combo of 6 from BLM to Balsam organized and led by Tom M. of Hikers Anonymous. We took a short break around the newly resurrected summit cairn to let some folks rest their feet and/or bodies while trying to forget the nasty black flies at the same time. On an uplifting note we only had one more peak left before the final descent to our end point at Rider Hollow. Tempered down a bit by the fact that we left 3 cars at Rider Hollow PA but the owners of two of the cars left their keys “safely” in the morning shuttle vehicle conveniently parked at Millbrook road PA....oops! Fortunately I had my keys safely hooked into my pack and a cooler of chilled beverages in my car." — Nimblefoot • May 26, 2018

"I met Ed in the McKenley Hollow PA for a hike of Balsam and Eagle. Between Haynes and Eagle we run into fellow gridded John and chat with him for awhile. Closer to Eagle we run into Lauren returning from there and heading back to her car. She didn’t find the summit cairn so she returns with us to make it official. During our conversation we learn that she doesn’t plan on doing Balsam, she thought you only needed to do it in winter for a 3 season round, but we convince her to do it as it’s right there beyond the trail jct in the col. Ed and I finish our lunch then commence on a whack down the ridge then down to the O-M trail near the register box. After loading our packs in our cars, changing footwear and clothes and enjoying a beverage we become concerned that Lauren hadn’t returned. We wait for awhile before heading to Brios in Phoenicia for burgers and more beverages. Since Ed is staying in the Cats for the night he will return to the PA to see that Lauren did make it back to her car....she did." — Nimblefoot • Apr 22, 2018

" Joined Mr Magoo and friends Tom and Laura for a fun bushwhack of Eagle from Burnham Hollow road. Since the small parking lot wasn’t plowed out we piled into a Jeep Wrangler, owned by another Tom, to reduce any parking isssues along the small road. Initially we broke out our own route through the unplowed parking area then came upon a track broken out five days ago that was easily followed. Now we had easy navigation so we could rotate leads allowing everyone to join in the fun of breaking 4-5 inches of snow on top of a firm base. We made numerous corrections as the original trail breakers made many unnecessary loops but still appreciated the tremendous work they did. Up to the always stellar summit in three hours with some lollygagging to allow folks to catch their breathe or discuss the next peak they need for a round or grid. After we enjoyed our lunch, standing around the buried cairn, it was an easy romp back down our track still making shortcuts to avoid bending under trees or pushing through limbs. Some of us actually had fun “playing” in the wonderful powder-like snow, a complete change from the heavy cement-like snow on West Kill two days earlier." — Nimblefoot • Mar 8, 2018

"Another early spring-like day with bare ground on the ascent then a thin layer of crusty snow with stray patches of ice along the ridge over Haynes mountain. All the water crossings have gotten trickier as the water level has risen with recent rains and current melt out. The trailhead parking lot was a glare of ice. After shutting my car off I noticed it was sliding backwards so I relocated to a patch of bare ground. " — Nimblefoot • Feb 27, 2018

"After descending Doubletop mountain we headed up to the ever popular summit of Eagle. To finish up Steve’s month of January and my 24th round of the Catskill 35. Keeping things interesting we bushwhacked straight down to the leanto then finished the day by getting ourselves safely acrossed all the stream crossings on our way out." — Nimblefoot • Jan 25, 2018

"Headed out from Rider Hollow PA, on a beautiful sunny day, to visit the summits of Big Indian, Eagle and Balsam mountains. After signing into the canister on Big Indian I headed back to the car passing the only two other hikers I would see all day. A quick visit to the summit of Eagle and have my lunch before hitting Balsam." — Nimblefoot • Sep 4, 2017

"Out on a solo hike visiting the summits of Bearpen, Vly and Eagle mountains for the month. After relocating the car to the Seager parking lot I set out on an 8 mile round trip romp up to the P-W trail and over to Eagle and back. Not a great summit, only a stack of rocks in an opening within a treed flat area right off the trail. Passed a group of college kids doing a backpack of the P-W trail(?) before heading back to school. They were looking for views but unfortunately they had the wrong trail for that kind of fun. I noticed yellow Police caution tape blocking the herd path to Doubletop and further up the trail search grid strings with flagging still hanging in the woods. I assume from the search for the lost local hiker from 3 weeks ago. Hope they plan to return and remove that stuff." — Nimblefoot • Aug 24, 2017

"Laura and I visited the summits of Fir and Big Indian mountains with Steve then continued onto Eagle while Steve brings the shuttle car around to Rider Hollow TH. Now on a trail and the temp. rising we are starting to dry out from our bushwhack. Quick stop at the summit cairn then head off for Balsam before any rain starts falling." — Nimblefoot • Jul 1, 2017

"Tom, Laura, Steve and I did a bushwhack loop of Fir, Big Indian and Eagle mountains from Burnham Hollow road parking lot. Hiking the P-W trail was a nice change of pace from the whacking before the final bushwhack down the ridge back to our cars. The final stretch of Forest Preserve leading to the parking lot was only four feet wide, so you definitely knew where to walk without trespassing." — Nimblefoot • May 23, 2017