State Lands are Our Home

Hikers Anonymous™ activities occur on State Lands.

Here are some key points from the New York State Department of Conservation (DEC) Love Our NY Lands :

State Lands Belong to All of Us
All New Yorkers and visitors should be able to access, enjoy, and feel welcome on state lands.
These lands belong to all of us, our families, and our neighbors.
While enjoying these shared spaces, be respectful of other visitors.

Respect Other Visitors
All New Yorkers share our state lands.
Treat each other with respect.
Respect all users regardless of their activity, speed, or skill level.

New Peak Requirements Starting in Spring 2021

For the purpose of all milestones and patches offered and recognized by Hikers Anonymous™ a full round of the Catskill High Peaks shall consist of 35 peaks thus preserving continuity of the 140 climbs and 420 climbs which constitute the requirements for the Catskill High Peaks 4 Seasons and Catskill 420 Grid milestones.

Doubletop, the highest elevation trailless peak in the Catskills, remains on the list with an adjustment to the summit location as described below.

Roundtop, the sibling of Kaaterskill High Peak in the Kaaterskill Wild Forest, replaces Graham, which is no longer accessible to hikers.

These requirements apply to all milestones and patches offered and recognized by Hikers Anonymous™. If you have questions or comments regarding our requirements email us. If you have questions regarding the requirements for membership in the Catskill 3500 Club email them.

Doubletop

Hikers are fortunate that Doubletop can be climbed from multiple approaches entirely on State Land with a small adjustment to the agreed upon location which represents the summit destination.

The Catskill 3500 Club canister has been removed from its location near the actual summit (3,874') which is on private land. Don't go there anymore as you are no longer welcome.

Hike a route entirely on State Land to the south top (blue pin) of Doubletop where you'll find a State Land Wilderness Area sign at 42.02386, -74.52496, elevation 3,849' which represents the new summit location.

If you are interested in exploring this further, visit the Doubletop Mountain and the Doubletop Mountain-South Peak pages on peakbagger.com.

Potentially Confusing Signage

Don't be confused by the peculiar, nonconforming signage that has recently begun to pop up at various trailheads and trail junctions in and around the Big Indian Wilderness such as this colorful metal one which is affixed by screws to a tree adjacent to the register box at the Biscuit Brook trailhead.

This sign simply refers to the well known private property line 3 miles away that is clearly shown in the map snippet above.

Bill Rudge, Natural Resources Supervisor of NYSDEC Region 3, confirms that this sign was produced and installed by the NYSDEC at the request of the landowner at public expense. The sign was produced in an expedited manner by a 3rd party vendor due to the NYSDEC's sign shop being "backed up". He indicated that a more suitable sign with clarified language may replace this sign in the future when the NYSDEC sign shop is able to work through their current backlog.

Introducing Roundtop

More Majestic than Previously Thought

Two authoritative references were used to determine that Roundtop is the 36th tallest Catskill High Peak: Alan Via's book, The Catskill 67 and the 2018 New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Catskills Trails Map.

The Catskill 100 Highest Peak List in Via's book which lists the 102 highest peaks in the Catskills was used to identify the ten highest candidate peaks for consideration as a replacement for Graham. The Catskill 67 was published in 2012 before more accurate LIDAR based contours and summit elevations were available. The 2018 New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Catskill Trails Map, which contains the most accurate LIDAR based contours and summit elevations, was used to rerank the candidate peaks by elevation. The result is shown in the following table.

In addition to Roundtop being at the top of the list in terms of elevation, there are many additional reasons why we think it is the most worthy peak to replace Graham.

Here's a small excerpt from Alan Via's book, The Catskill 67, describing the wonders of Roundtop.

Unlike most of the trailless Catskill 100 peaks, Roundtop has a large rock cairn marking the obvious top. When the leaves are on the trees the views are mostly of the here-and-there variety; go from late autumn untile early spring for the best ones. Otherwise, look for the beautiful, grassy view point a couple of minutes from the summit. You won't be disappointed by the great views of the surrounding mountains. During the winter a few of the cliff bands are a bit more challenging, but the continual views through openings in the trees make the extra effort worth it.

Sounds like a winner!

Roundtop is accessible from multiple trailheads: Platte Clove, Gillespie Road and Palenville. It can be bushwhacked from all four compass directions. Myriad possibilites exist for an enriching hiking experience whether hiking Roundtop alone or with its sibling to the east, Kaaterskill High Peak. If you're looking for a challenging marathon hike, you could try the CrazyCombo™ Mink-Gillespie Horseshoe, a six peak horseshoe shaped traverse around the peaks of Elka Park and Platte Clove, requiring only a short car shuttle.

The history associated with Roundtop and Kaaterskill High Peak is extensive. Thomas Cole of Catskill, NY found Kaaterskill High Peak and Roundtop to be worthy subjects of his Hudson River School paintings. These peaks were considered the tallest in the Catskills and were frequently visited and marvelled at during the era of the big hotels: the Catskill Mountain House, Hotel Kaaterskill and Laurel House. Look up the history of military usage of the area and search for the remains of the Tory Fort.

If you are interested in exploring Roundtop further, visiting the Roundtop page on peakbagger.com is a fine starting point. You'll find plenty of suggestions for great hike itineraries in the area at the Catskill Mountaineer website.

Goodbye Graham

Hikers are no longer welcome on the 5,457 acre parcel. owned by Gould Properties LLLP which includes the entire summit of Graham Mountain and a portion of the summit of Doubletop Mountain.

Catskill Single Season 35'R

The Catskill Single Season 35'R patches are a series of four 3” by 1.5” triangular embroidered patches designed and produced by the Hikers Anonymous™ Arts and Crafts Department.

Hiker has climbed each of the 35 Catskill High Peaks in a single season.

Winter: December 21 through March 21
Spring: March 22 through June 21
Summer: June 22 through September 21
Fall: September 22 through December 20

The climbs have to be completed in a single season.

Hikers earning multiple patches can arrange them in many creative ways, including a 3” square or a 6” x 3” pyramid.

Here's what you need to do:

Use the Progress Form to record your peaks and dates as you hike and view your progress on the Track Your Progress page.

1. 1) When you have completed the required climbs, email us with your mailing address, how many patches you'd like, and your final peak and date.
2. 2) Make an online donation of three dollars for each patch.
3. 3) Your accomplishment will be added to our Recent Milestones listing.

Having trouble? Email us and we'll help you through the process.

Single Season 35'R FOUR in a ROW

The Single Season 35'R FOUR in a ROW patch is available to hikers who have completed four consecutive Catskill Single Season 35'R milestones. Hikers who have finished this milestone and hikers who have an active streak of Single Season 35'R milestones are listed on a special FOUR in a ROW section of the Recent Milestones page.

Hiker has climbed each of the 35 Catskill High Peaks in a single season for four consecutive seasons.

The milestone and patch can be earned multiple times.

The Single Season 35'R FOUR in a ROW patch is a special 3” by 1.5” embroidered patch designed and produced by the Hikers Anonymous™ Arts and Crafts Department. It is designed to be displayed in many creative ways along with our Catskill Single Season 35'R and Catskill 420 Grid patches.

Catskill High Peaks 4 Seasons

The Catskill High Peaks 4 Seasons patch is a 3” circular embroidered patch designed and produced by the Hikers Anonymous™ Arts and Crafts Department. We have been offering this patch to Catskill High Peaks hikers since 2017, no club membership required.

Hiker has climbed each of the 35 Catskill High Peaks in each of the 4 seasons.

Winter: December 21 through March 21
Spring: March 22 through June 21
Summer: June 22 through September 21
Fall: September 22 through December 20

The climbs do not have to be completed in the same year or consecutive years. There is no time limit.

Here's what you need to do:

Use the Progress Form to record your peaks and dates as you hike and view your progress on the Track Your Progress page.

1. 1) When you have completed the required climbs, email us with your mailing address, how many patches you'd like, and your final peak and date.
2. 2) Make an online donation of three dollars for each patch.
3. 3) Your accomplishment will be added to our Recent Milestones listing.

Having trouble? Email us and we'll help you through the process.

Catskill 420 Grid

The Catskill 420 Grid patch is a 3” by 1.5” rectangular embroidered patch designed and produced by the Hikers Anonymous™ Arts and Crafts Department.

Hiker has climbed each of the 35 Catskill High Peaks in each of the 12 months. Hikers make 420 ascents (35 X 12) to complete the Catskill 420 Grid.

The climbs do not have to be completed in the same year or consecutive years. There is no time limit.

Here's what you need to do:

1. 1) When you have completed the required climbs, email us with your mailing address, how many patches you'd like, and your final peak and date.
2. 2) Make an online donation of three dollars for each patch.
3. 3) Your accomplishment will be added to our Recent Milestones listing.

Having trouble? Email us and we'll help you through the process.

History of the Catskill 420 Grid

As described in an article written by Edwina Henderson and appearing on page 23 of the June 1, 1980 issue of the Sunday Freeman, Richard Davis #234 W76 and Sam Steen #92 W22 set out to climb each of the mountains required for membership in the Catskill 3500 Club in each month of the year. At that time, there were 34 such mountains, and thus, they made 408 ascents to accomplish their goal. Also accomplishing this feat were Joan Dean #360 W135, Angie Mahdavian #372 W121, and Bill Riemvis #171 W81. The order of their completion is not definitively known.

Additional information about the first known completion of the Catskill 408 Grid including a letter from Sam Steen #92 W22 and a mention in the THE PERIPATETIC PORCUPINE can be found in the Catskill 3500 Club Canister, Volume 13 (1980) from the Canister Archive.

As stated in Sam's letter, "The final climb was witnessed by Bill Riemvis and Friedel Schunk; two stout-hearted observers who pretend to have no such aspirations for themselves", but as you can see from the list below, at least one of those observers, Bill Riemvis #171 W81, seems to have changed his mind at some point.

In 1990, the Catskill 3500 Club added Southwest Hunter as the 35th required peak.

Hikers now make 420 ascents (35 X 12) to complete the Catskill 420 Grid.