Wittenberg #2

Now, I've already done Wittenberg Mountain(as you can see in the title) so this blog will be mostly pictures. The last time I went up Wittenberg was in the fall, when the leaves were off the trees. So this would be a whole different view, being that summer was right around the corner and everything would be a beautiful green.

I didn't hike on Tuesday, my normal day off because of crappy weather, so I decided to call in from work and go hiking on a Thursday!!

A lot of people underestimate Wittenberg. It probably has the best view in the Catskills and a lot of people think it's easy. Well, it's actually one of the toughest trails in the Catskills. It's over 7 miles and has extremely difficult sections where you have to use 4 points of contact to get up. It's tough.  But man its a great hike. Here's what most of the beginning of the hike is like. Not too difficult, but people think that the viewpoint is right around the corner, when it's nowhere near.

You start hiking along the amazing Woodland Valley Creek and start climbing immediately. No difficult parts yet, but you start to gain in elevation right after you cross the creek. A little further up, at around three miles, you start hitting the awesome climbing parts of Wittenberg. Below is a section where you have to climb up, using your hands and feet. These are my favorite parts of a hike!!

On one of the more difficult sections, I came upon two men climbing up. One guy looked in good shape and in his 40's, the other, not so much and in his 50's. They noticed me, I said hi and the heavier guy turned around and lost his footing, falling and hitting his head on the ground. Now this was one of the steeper parts, so they were above me. I sprinted up the section and caught him just before he fell off the steeper area. The other guy had a hold of his legs and while I pushed, he pulled to get him off of the steeper area so he wouldn't fall off. I was like "HOLY SHIT!!" That guy was very close to falling 10 feet off of a steep area and quite possibly injuring himself very severely. I thought it might of been my fault, but I didn't startle them or scare them. He simply didn't know where his footing was and slipped. 

When we got him off of the steeper area, we kept talking to him and asking him if he was ok. He was bleeding from his head, but he was still responding to us and seemed to not be effected by the fall. I told them that I had first aid equipment if they needed it but the other man took out a first aid bag and we cleaned the wound, putting a gauze pad on the cut and bandage strap around his head. They seemed to have everything under control, so I went on my way up the mountain. I would meet up with them on the summit later. 

After that little scare, that steep climbing continued for about a mile or so, and I eventually started coming into that amazing conifer forest:

I think I say this in every blog I write, but that approach into the conifer forest is like no other. The feeling is just so vivid. I love it

The climb was starting to finally flatten out and before you know it, the viewpoint was right there. The great thing was.... I had it all to myself!! It was a beautiful day also. It was overcast and in the low 70's. I had the viewpoint to myself for almost 45 minutes. Which is very odd on Wittenberg Mountain. Breathtaking...

The view looking south east with Samuel's Point and the Ashokan Reservoir in the background. 

Looking south at Ashokan High Point(far left), Mombaccus and Little Rocky Mountain(middle) and Balsam Cap to the right.

South east with Ticetonyk Mountain to the left, Samuel's Point beyond the conifer tree and the Ashokan Reservoir.

Looking south again, but with Friday Mountain to the far right appearing into view.

Looking north at Devil's Path, Plattekill Mountain and Overlook Mountain. Ticetonyk Is to the right.

A panoramic view on Wittenberg

Having those views to yourself is just amazing. I would sit there and stare into the distance. Thinking about nothing. Worrying about nothing. While having my lunch, I had an amazing moment when a bald eagle flew overhead. It was beautiful. A stunning creature flying over an stunning landscape view. Damn I'm glad I called into work!! 

The men whom I had met before on the hike finally made it up. The guy who fell earlier looked like he was doing fine. But he ruined everything when he started talking on the phone for his job. I was out. I'm not up there hiking for that crap and I can experience when I'm off the mountain. Bye, bye.

I started back down the mountain and got treated with a nice little view overlooking the western part of Devil's Path.

Once again, I'm glad I called in from work today!!