Chapter 670

Aug 11, 2024

Staircliff Path

a wonderful adventure

It was awe inspiring to pass through this trail. Yet it was the hardest hike that we have done. More difficult than Colorado or the Adirondacks but so rewarding. 

The cliff we pass under is almost 300 feet high. On top you can see one of the "Summer Houses" , small gazebos that were built a hundred years ago by the original Smiley family Mohonk Resort owners. There are 115 of them scattered around their 1000 acres. The whole Mohonk Preserve has 8000 acres.  Here is a video story of their construction and upkeep. I believe the one in my photo might be the recently reconstructed Whittier Outlook up on Skytop.

At times you have to low crawl or remove your backpack to get through.

The rock formations were marvelous.

Sometimes you go through a tunnel. Two treking poles would have been better but I borowed one of Colleen's as I had neglected to bring mine.

The rocks have a beauty all their own.

There were several vertical notches to shinny up and there was a ladder to help with this large vertical jump.

This was our exit to to a more calm level Forest Drive path to Lake Mohonk. Our goal had been to do the whole Labyrinth but we felt like what we had already gone through was a more severe section so we mellowed out.

Had only met a few hikers which was a blessing to not encounter any crowds in the popular Labyrinth. One young group from Queens had passed us with an experienced leader. But we passed them when they got off trail (red markers) and had difficulty among the large boulders.

Following the trail by keeping an eye out for red dots.

This was the beginning of our path which was marked by a Caution Danger Zone. A left turn on Forest Drive at the top of Duck Pond Trail would have been so much easier but then we would have missed out on the challenge and the fun.

Statistically it was a 4.5 mile journey done in 4 hours. Parking at the Pine Road lot which was over full on this beautiful Sunday. $15 Mohonk Preserve hiking pass each. Proceeded to Duck Pond and Duck Pond Trail up along the brook. Trail was pretty good but uphill. This Staircliff Path is the connector between the Labyrinth and Forest Drive.

You can go all the way for free if your timing is right, (he did not go through the Staircliff Path).

Next journey might be $35 hiking pass at Main Gate. 2.2 mile walk into the main Lodge area, visit horse museum, or  perhaps up skytop & tower or swimming or boating on lake, or more hiking around the area. 

It's expensive for the next level to drive to lodge for $86 breakfast. Or $1000 for overnight with meals, Yikes, for this top rated Resort.

At the end of the exhausting hike in the least difficult area I did suffer a fall. There were a bunch of Russian, Ukrainians and Czechs passing by us. I think it was the Russians on my tail pushing me too fast (or was I pushed?) when I went down on the loose rocks after coming through a muddy section. No problem, I just bleed so easy "nowadays". Nurse Colleen to the rescue with her first aid kit.

This was the final day of our family vacation in the Catskills to be covered in perhaps another chapter?