climbing unique Catamount Mt.

     Catamount Mountain is unique. As you approach it on the road it rises abruptly from the surrounding flat countryside. Half the mountain is bare rock because it was burned over twice. In these areas you are climbing following rock cairns (small towers of piled rocks marking the route where there are no trees to place the more typical trail marker disc) and enjoying good views along the way. It's a fun mountain to climb because there are many places where you have to look for hand holds to haul yourself up rocks. There is also a “chimney” feature – a very narrow 20 foot long steep rock cleft that defines the trail up an otherwise unclimbable rock face. If all of this sounds scary don't worry. Unless you are extremely sensitive to heights it's not a problem. We once saw a couple of men probably in their 80's on Catamount enjoying themselves, albeit at a very slow pace. The trail starts out very level, climbs over a smaller rocky cobble, then dips down before the climb to the summit. Great views from the top of several ponds and lakes (Taylor Pond, Silver Lake, Union Falls Pond) and mountains (Whiteface preeminently). The trail is 1.9 miles long and about 1570 feet of vertical ascent.

     

To get to the trail head east on route 186 to the “T” at Donnelly's corners. (The famous Donnelly's ice cream stand is on the right – soft custard, one flavor per day always twisted with vanilla. The only decision you have to make is the size you want. Leave your cholesterol concerns at the door. Hey, you just climbed a mountain – you earned it ! Interesting fact: the tiny stand used to be the warming hut for a small downhill ski area.) Turn left onto route 86 heading toward Paul Smiths and Malone. Go about 3 miles and turn right on little Split Rock Road. At the “T” turn right onto Bloomingdale Road and follow it into Bloomingdale. At the stop sign turn left, go about 2/10^th mile and turn right onto River Road just after crossing a small stream. Follow River Road for quite a while. It eventually crosses over a dam (can't miss that landmark) that forms Franklin Falls Pond that you have been driving along. About 1 to 2 miles past the dam where the main road takes a 90 degree turn to the right, bear left onto Plank Road which becomes Forestdale Road. There is a new sign and ample parking lot on the left. (Previously you had to look for a gap in the trees, some flagging and, hopefully, another car or two.) It is about 3.5 miles from where you left the main road or 0.7 miles from the Clinton-Franklin county line which I assume is signed.