Indian Head Mountain

"Managed to bare boot it all the way up to Jimmy Dolan Notch and the summit of Indian Head by dodging any icy patches and cautiously walking across those that I couldn’t avoid. Put on the Hillsounds for my descent back down to the Notch, out and back to Twin then down the initial descent from the Notch. Bare booted again through the rock and root jungle back to the PA. Found plenty of well preserved bear prints in ice on both peaks and down low on the JDN trail. The bear(s) made them in afternoon slush then they froze over night. Noticed a number of places where the bear(s) slipped or skidded on slush covered rock or rock ledge, I guess their claws don’t help in those situations." — Nimblefoot • Nov 20, 2019

"Another fine Fall day though a bit cooler than yesterday for part two of our Devils Path 4-peak traverse. The west side of Twin mountain is still closed do to vandalism of newly installed iron rungs in a section often found challenging for some hikers. An O & B of Indian Head and Twin via the ever popular Jimmy Dolan Notch trail. Today Yong Ae treated us to a lunch of dumplings with dipping sauce and her wonderful ginger tea. Once back to Prediger road only Tom and I were willing to do a late afternoon hike of KHP, to finish the day, before rendezvousing with Tom’s wife Anna in Kingston for some burgers at Five Guys." — Nimblefoot • Oct 15, 2019

"Did a double dip to get the Devils Path four. Indian Head and Twin from the Prediger road PA then Plateau and Sugarloaf from the Mink Hollow PA. Spooked a good size black bear about half way into Jimmy Dolan Notch." — Nimblefoot • Sep 17, 2019

"Successful single day, solo traverse of the Devil's Path from East to West. This marks my first ultra-style, and longest hike in terms of mileage and duration. Set out at around 4:50am with 15 hours of moving time. I got over my fear of hiking alone in the dark, made some newt friends along the way, and finished the trail in one piece. I'm excited to keep pushing and see how far my heart and feet take me :) " — pandyabear • Sep 15, 2019

"Tom, Peter and I did a traverse of the Devils Path 4, Plateau to Indian Head. We started our hike by bushwhacking right out of the Mink Hollow PA as a short cut to the DP heading toward Plateau. The rest of the day we felt like salmon swimming upstream as we were heading east while the numerous hikers and backpackers were all heading west. On Indian Head we met up Tom’s wife Anna and friends Mimi and Regina and hiked out to Prediger road with them. To finish our day we headed to Mama’s Boy in Tannersville to have some smash burgers and tater tots. A wonderful day with cooler temps, great views and good friends." — Nimblefoot • Aug 24, 2019

"Tom, Christy and I did a challenging hike of the eastern half of the Devils Path over to Kaaterskill High Peak using the Platte Clove Preserve trail to connect the two. We started with a bushwhack out of Mink Hollow up to the DP on Plateau and finished with a bushwhack off of KHP down to Byrne road on new DEP land." — Nimblefoot • Apr 22, 2019

"Five of us out milking the final days of winter while the weather is great and the snow is still here. Spikes all day to handle the numerous icy patches on the crusty packed trail. Anna treated us to dessert of Korean twinkies and sweet rice bars. A single male and a young couple also out enjoying the fine weather and trail conditions." — Nimblefoot • Mar 19, 2019

"Helping my friend Ed with a guiding gig. The client and four friends wanted to do the entire DP over 2 days spending the night in Mink Hollow. Two local guys humped all our overnight gear and food up on Saturday while we hiked over Indian Head, Twin and Sugarloaf, then brought it all back down on Sunday. The five were challenged with the trail conditions and the steepness of the ascents and descents." — Nimblefoot • Mar 2, 2019

"Tom and I got in an out and back of Indian Head and Twin before any rain occurred. An overcast sky, warmer than usual temps and moisture dripping out of the trees, otherwise a nice day dispite the forecast. Thin snow cover initially so we started off bare booting then switched to the spikes through the tree jungle which was changed into a sort of ice rink with the recent rains freezing over night. Where the trail pitches up to Jimmy Dolan Notch we started to punch through deeper snow so on went the SS. The snowshoes stayed on for the entire O & B to Indian Head summit and the view beyond, though only saw a cloud bank. The ice flows in the trail were a bit tricky to descend but we managed, microspikes would have been more confidence inducing. On our descent to the Notch we got great views of peaks sticking above the clouds when they cleared up high revealing a sunny blue sky momentarily." — Nimblefoot • Feb 7, 2019

"Loop hiked Indian Head and Twin from Prediger Road. It was a moody and cloudy day without much to note; except for the sun's rays putting on a show off in the southern Catskills." — Right-On • Dec 26, 2018

"Steve and I did a quick hike of Indian Head and Twin. Today the snowshoes stayed in the car and we left with just the Hillsounds after a quick chat with Pete Senterman who was out walking his dogs. The spikes were on our boots the whole time except for the ever enchanting lower section of the Jimmy Dolan Notch trail. Plenty of ice to play on without being overwhelming. The warming temps had the trees dripping a bit and dropping ice bombs but not bad enough to require a hard hat. Wonderful blue sky with the sun shining brightly." — Nimblefoot • Dec 20, 2018

"Doug came down the night before. He was planning on finishing his NEU8 with a Devils Path Traverse. I wanted to be there for it and to also pick up 5 peaks for my Catskills list. We drove over in his car and headed up. The first half of the traverse was cool. Terrain and rock formations were really cool. But damn, those col depths were serious. Between Sugarloaf and Plateau, we dropped 1200 feet, then had to regain 1240 feet. There were few summit views. The traverse was more about ledge views. We came out at dusk. Doug then got to drive back home that night while I took the next day off from hiking. It was a 24.5 mile day. " — newenglandwarrior • Aug 26, 2018

"Summited Twin via Jimmy Dolan Notch trail. Great views just after peak #1 & decent views from peak #2. Reversed course back to notch then followed Devil's Path up & over Indian Head. Nice views from Hanging Ledge. Returned to trailhead @ Prediger Rd." — billsussdorff • Jul 8, 2018

"Peak 4 of our grand hike from Mink Hollow road to Gillespie road visiting the eastern four peaks of the DP plus KHP and Round Top. At this point everyone is anxiously looking forward to reaching our rehydration vehicle parked at the Platte Clove road PA which holds the coolers filled with water, beverages, ice and a variety of snack foods." — Nimblefoot • Jun 16, 2018

"After hiking Kaaterskill High Peak with Tom and Anna the three of us headed over to Prediger road PA to hike Twin and Indian Head. First two peaks completed on second 420 grid." — Nimblefoot • Oct 19, 2017

"Sharon, Steve and I hiked from Roaring Kill TH to Platte Clove road on a beautiful day. Blue sky with summer like conditions, hot and humid, and the occasional breeze making the conditions more comfortable. Indian Head finished up the month of September for a second time. " — Nimblefoot • Sep 24, 2017

"After climbing Kaaterskill High Peak and Twin I headed over to the non-descript summit of Indian Head. Nice to hike solo for a change allowing me to scramble up and down at whatever pace I choose. What started out as a totally overcast morning improved to a sunny blue sky afternoon." — Nimblefoot • Jul 29, 2017

"Tim and Paul joined Steve, Laura and I for a traverse of Plateau, Sugarloaf, Twin and Indian Head mountains from Mink Hollow to Prediger road. Just as we approached the parking lot off Prediger road the skies began to open up with a steady downpour putting a damper on our rehydration time. Off to Mama's Boy in Tannersville for some burgers." — Nimblefoot • Jun 27, 2017

"Slight rain on my climb up to Jimmy Dolan Notch and up Indian Head, but then the sun came out and the views were incredible. Lots of people out and about today. Had a few great conversations with some nice and friendly people. 10/10." — Right-On • Jun 3, 2017

"A quick traverse of Indian Head, Twin and Sugarloaf mountains with Laura and Steve. The low cloud cover occluded any views the whole day. The trails were wetter than I have seen them in many years in the month of May, with water coursing down the trail in many spots. The wet rocks and roots led to a lot slips and slides adding some comedy to a rather dreary day." — Nimblefoot • May 30, 2017