15th September 2013 - Overlook Mountain, Catskills, NY, USA
Sunday morning and today I plan to go up Overlook Mountain. The weather is perfect with clear, sunny skies, good visibility and light winds. There is a ranger station and fire tower on the summit of Overlook Mountain that is open to the public, a climb up the tower should give me a great view in all directions.
Click on the link to go to the Wikipedia page for the Catskill Mountains
Click on the link to go to the Wikipedia page for Woodstock, New York
Click on the link to go to the Wikipedia page for the Catskill Mountains
Click on the link to go to the Wikipedia page for Woodstock, New York
The map shows the summit of Overlook Mountain and the track I used to get to the top
Time to check out. I've been staying in the room at the far end of the block.
Some of the more pricey accommodation that's available
It's a beautiful morning by the millstream
It's a quiet morning in downtown Woodstock
May Peace Prevail on Earth. A dedication in many languages.
I've arrived at the car park for my walk and much to my surprise there's a Buddhist monastery on the other side of the road
The start of the track up Overlook Mountain
About half way up are the ruins of Overlook Mountain House. Click on the link for some information about this ill fated building.
Pleasant walking all the way to the top
On reaching the ranger station on the summit a path is signposted to "Scenic Overlook". Here the steep drop of the escarpment gives great views to the east, southeast and south across the valley of the Hudson River, the Ashokan Reservoir and the western peaks of the Catskills.
Panorama from east to south
The fire tower. Time to climb up and see the view.
The view from the top. Looking south to the Ashokan Reservoir.
The view to the southwest. The small patch of water in the middle of the picture is Cooper Lake and the hill just behind it is Mount Tobias. The highest hill in the distance in the middle of the picture is Slide Mountain, at 4180', the roof of the Catskills.
Indian Head Mountain and Plattekill Mountain just to the north
The Hudson River to the east
Looking northwest to Plateau Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain, Twin Mountain and Indian Head Mountain
Panorama of the view from south round to northwest
and northwest round to northeast
I could make out a bridge over the Hudson in the distance so I zoomed in to take a picture. It's the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge on Route 199 if you're wondering.
It's a shame to have to head back down on a day like today