Friday Mountain

"Ten of us, nine two footed and one four footed, enjoyed an out/back of Friday and Balsam Cap with gust driven snow squalls. On our descent back to the pregnant tree and rim trail we passed a friendly group of Korean hikers ascending. They were spread out quite a distance between the speedsters and the sluggish caboose who refused to put on spikes to aid in efficiency in ascending. One guy was actually wearing just a T-shirt, friggin show off(!)." — Nimblefoot • Jan 6, 2019

"Tom, Nadee and I joined Connie S. for her final 3 peaks to complete the month of December of her 3rd Catskill 420 Grid. Started in Moon Haw and took the usual trade route passed the turnoff for Friday to hit Balsam Cap and Rocky first. We allowed the 3500 Club group, who started after us, to break out the path Friday’s can. From the col below Rocky we took an easy pleasant route directly toward the col between Balsam Cap and Friday where we picked up a solid track of ours and the group of 11. Down to the pregnant tree and up to the canister on Friday using the broken track. Now we are kind of regretting leaving a peak to the end but at least it’s all downhill afterwards. A nice day of warm temps, no precipitation and packy/slippery snow that allowed for plenty startling slips and butt slides where necessary." — Nimblefoot • Dec 15, 2018

"Six of us pushed through the heat and humidity to do the six pack of peaks backwards starting at Peekamoose road and ending at Moon Haw road. Visiting the summits of Peekamoose through Friday. Folks were really dragging on our ascent of Friday do to the high humidity all day. Once at the canister they perked up for the final descent with the anticipation of rehydration beverages awaiting us at the Moon Haw PA." — Nimblefoot • Jul 1, 2018

"Tim B. joined Laura and I for a romp in the white fluff to tag Friday and Balsam Cap for Laura’s Grid. Nice quiet day with great company and wonderful views. Much warmer than the past week." — Nimblefoot • Jan 2, 2018

"Laura, Steve and I were joined by Tim and Tom for a nice romp up Friday and Balsam Cap mountains on a beautiful day. Blue sky and temps up to the upper 60's/ lower 70's making for a fine day to hike an open ridge or peak but since we are gridiots we're bushwhacking. Laura was having an off day, forgetting the home-made cupcakes she was going share with us and the beer we were going to cache in the herd path for our friend George. The fall colors are becoming more noticeable reminding us that summer is winding down." — Nimblefoot • Sep 12, 2017

"Laura, Steve and I did a loop of Friday, Balsam Cap, Rocky and Lone from Denning TH. Beautiful summer day for bushwhacking though the black flies were out again at the summits." — Nimblefoot • Jul 3, 2017

"Tim joined Steve and I for a romp on the bushwhack range visiting the summits of Friday, Balsam Cap, Rocky and Lone mountains. The black flies and other biting pests were nonexistent until we got to the canister on a Friday with the gradual rise in temp." — Nimblefoot • Jun 20, 2017

"Nine of us got together to search for a cave/cabin structure on the side of Friday mtn. It was possibly used by hunters years ago. We struck out and only found a more recent metal shed lower on the mtn. Since we were in the neighborhood we continued over to Balsam Cap, Rocky and Lone on our way back." — Nimblefoot • Apr 29, 2017

"Bushwhack of Friday and Balsam Cap from Moonhaw Road. Lost the more commonly-used herd path near the Friday summit and ended up following one I had not taken before. This path was not packed down like the rest and led up a steep rock wall near some wicked blow-down. The view was well worth the extra effort though. " — wacbravo • Jan 21, 2017

"The frisky four took a nice stroll along the bushwhack range from Moonhaw road to Peekamoose road. Only frost found on top of the leaves, all of the snow from early storms has melted away." — Nimblefoot • Nov 1, 2016

"Tom,Anna,Laura,Jim and I did a loop hike of the Moon Haw Four, Witt/Corn/Friday/BC, starting on the old Vanbenschoten trail from Moon Haw road. While crossing the Dink we ran into the two guys we met in the parking lot in the morning. Lunch break #2 at Friday's gizmo while we made our entries in the log book." — Nimblefoot • May 17, 2016

"A thru-hike from Woodland Valley to Moon Haw road. The whack from the W-C-S trail over the Dink and up to Fridays can went smoothly as it was less dense than expected. Found a lost water bottle and insulator hanging in a tree as we approached the summit. " — Nimblefoot • Mar 7, 2016

"Hiked Friday and Balsam Cap to join in Tom & Anna's W35 completion and single season round of the 35. Despite everyone deploying some form of traction there was still some spectacular slips and falls on the ice and packed snow." — Nimblefoot • Feb 4, 2016

"Hiking Friday & Balsam Cap for my hiking buddy's grid. Lovely day of low clouds and wind blowing the previous nights rain off the trees and on our heads. Clouds cleared and the sun came out after we returned to the car." — Nimblefoot • Oct 14, 2014

"Hiked 7 of 9 mountains in Catskills Southern range. Slide-Cornell-Friday-Balsam Cap-Rocky-Lone-Table. Bushwhacked from Cornell (over Dink? that's what someone told us anyway). Toughest hiking I've done." — cmu268 • Jun 21, 2014

"Climbed Friday then Balsam Cap from Moonhaw road. Bare ground at the road, looking like Spring, but still plenty of snow on top looking very wintery. Nice contrast of bright blue sky and snow/ice covered tree limbs." — Nimblefoot • Mar 5, 2013

"Finally succeeded in both climbing Friday and finding its canister to prove it. Earlier attempt from Cornell had fallen short. This time Frank and I climbed from Moonhaw Rd. Much cliff climbing, a number of herdpaths. so 5 miles took us 6 hrs. 20 min. This was my last Catskill 3500 club required peak. Southwest Hunter was optional at that time, but, of course, we climbed it the next day to be as official as possible. I became 3500 Club member #690. Not long after Frank became #699." — barbaratraver • Aug 26, 1989

"We climbed Cornell, then took herdpath from Neversink Trail to "Little Friday" and pushed on. After hunting between one and one and a half hours for canister in dense balsam, we gave up and came back another day to climb Friday from Moonhaw Road." — barbaratraver • Jul 2, 1989