Write-up: Bobbie Scarpino
Leaders: Carolyn Eastman and Bobbie Scarpino

A gloomy, cool day didn’t stop 20 Tramps from making the drive to the Catskills to hike Balsam Lake Mountain. The GPS took us on a “shortcut” over several back roads that proved to be quite interesting and had us stopping to take a picture of a particular street sign. From that point on the fun and laughter was contagious!

As we drove down the road to the trailhead, our caravan became separated. Wondering what was keeping the rest of our group, we stopped and waited. After a few minutes, they merrily came along, being the lucky ones to have spotted a bear!

Soon after starting up the trail, we naturally broke off into two groups, the Energizer Bunnies and the Tortoises, which worked out well for keeping with the Catskills’  maximum number of 15 in a group. Many interesting rock formations were along the steady, but not so difficult climb to the top. Descending hikers were wishing us clearing skies because the view at the top was socked in by fog.

The grassy summit provided a picnic table, outhouse, and ranger’s cabin, but no views. In order to see the tops of the surrounding Catskill Mountains, the fire tower must be scaled. The well wishes of the hikers we had met on the trail were granted. Climbing the tower, the sun was coming out and the clouds had lifted enough for us to see most of the mountaintops and a reservoir in the distance.

Our descent on the loop trail was much more difficult and strenuous than our ascent. The steep terrain down boulders tested our agility and strength of our knees. Once down the slope, it still wasn’t easy hiking along an old rocky road that seemed to keep going uphill. (Note: For those who might want to make this hike in the future, but would want a more moderate hike of 5 mi., instead of 7, make the return trip the same way as the trail going up, rather than taking the loop.) Back at the cars, the watermelon brought by Tom and Nancy was a refreshing treat that revived the weary bunch of hikers for their next adventure.

Most of the group stayed the night in Grand Gorge at the Colonial Motel. This little gem of a place was a great retreat for the evening. Almost everyone took a dip in the pool, in whatever they had as “swimwear.” A large gas grill with utensils and a nearby picnic table on the premises were put to use to enjoy the food we had brought from home. Tom was our grill master, Mary Kate popped opened a bottle of some homemade mead, and Lori and Jerry provided the music, which of course led to some of us dancing! Feeling a need to work off our supper, our group walked to take in some of the sights around the small town of Grand Gorge, nestled between mountains at a three-way intersection.

Waking to sunshine the next morning, it was off to the south again for our bike ride on the Ashokan Rail Trail. We weren’t more than a few miles down the road when the skies became dark and drops started to fall on the windshields. The forecast called for cloudy skies, but no rain, so we continued on and prayed. At the Boiceville Trailhead, we met up with four others who had made the journey down from home to join us for the day. We were 15 on bikes and two without bikes, Pam and Sir Tom deciding to hike part of the trail instead. The trail which opened for the first time in 2019, is composed of finely crushed and packed gravel. It rambles 11.5 miles eastward to West Hurley along the north shore of the Ashokan Reservoir, mostly under a canopy of trees with views of the reservoir and the Catskill Mountains at either end of the trail.

Signs along the way describe the history of the area. Six towns and many cemeteries had to be relocated to make way for the reservoir built in 1916 that would become the main water supply for New York City. A few buildings were moved to their present locations along Rt. 28, but most were burned.

Poison Ivy grows rampant along the sides of the trail. But at the Glenford Dike in Hurley there is a unique solution . . . goats are employed and kept in a penned area off the trail to eat the leafy stuff!

When we reached the far end of the trail to turn around and head back, we said our good-byes to Chuck on his e-bike and his son, Steve, on his road bike. They left the group to continue on the road that winds up and down and around the south side of the reservoir, so we figured they would return to the parking area long after the rest of us pedaled back on the same trail as we had come. Before a few of us had made it back to the starting point, who do we look back to see? Chuck and Steve, coming up from behind with lightning speed, having gone around the reservoir, crossing the bridge, and rejoining the trail! Chuck was all smiles and doing just fine. His son admitted he had a tough time keeping up with his dad!

So, no, it never rained on us. Not a single drop! By the time we stopped for lunch, the sun was shining brightly. The Tramps bring luck wherever they go on their fun adventures!