Carl Mountain, Hoyt Hollow Peak and Mount Tremper(Catskills)

Decided on another traverse in the Catskills with my buddy Jim today, hitting Carl Mountain, Hoyt Hollow Peak and Mount Tremper from north to south.  We spotted a car at the Mount Tremper parking area along County Route 40 just east of Phoenicia, before heading north to Silver Hollow Road, where a parcel of DEP land was our starting point.  Started our bushwhack pretty high, at about 1900 feet elevation.

Gray, cloudy skies greeted us as we headed into the woods. 

Almost immediately, we dropped into a small bowl, with filtered views north to Silver Hollow Mountain.

The woods on Carl Mountain's north slopes were very open and as we gained elevation, we began to get screened views off the steep east side.  Here is a nice view across the valley towards Little Rocky.

Continuing to hug the east side of the peak, we caught some very nice views of Olderbark's long ridge.

The steep drop from the east slopes provide almost continuous views towards Mount Tobias.

Jim, checking out the views east.

As we continued south, we finally found a wide open ledge, with a great view over Willow and the Route 212 alley.

The view southeast down towards Cooper Lake.

Climbing up away from the east slopes, we hit a series of sandstone ledges.

The view northeast into Silver Hollow.

A lone pine atop the 2780 foot north summit bump of Carl.

We continued along the summit ridge up to the 2884 foot true summit of Carl Mountain, marked with a small rock cairn.

The skies began to clear and the winds shifted around to the nortwest as we left the summit. Instead of keeping high on the land bridge between Carl and Hoyt Hollow Peak, we dropped off the south side of the mountain, arriving at an outstanding view point. 

The pyramid like peak is Ticetonyk Mountain with the Ashokan Reservoir in the distance.

From the same vantage point, Hoyt Hollow Peak can be seen rising due south.

After enjoying the views, we dropped straight off the steep south slopes of the mountain.

Looking back up the slopes on the descent.

High above Hoyt Hollow with the view through the bare trees towards Mount Tobias.

Here is a view back towards Carl Mountain's slopes to the north.

We side hilled above the hollow, aiming directly at the cirque on Hoyt Hollow's north slopes.

Deep in the mountain's north shadow, we enjoyed the view of Carl Mountain, draped in full sunlight.

We went right up the cirque of Hoyt Hollow gaining nearly 700 feet in less than .4 of a mile.  The 2800 foot summit was fully wooded, unfortunately.

Heading southwest towards the Long Path, we spotted a hole in the woods, with a view towards Mount Tremper's fire tower.

The connecting ridge between Hoyt Hollow and Mount Tremper was very nice, with filtered views to Tremper and the valley below.

Once on the Long Path, it was a quick ascent up to Mount Tremper and its fire tower. 

The views from the fire tower did not disappoint.  Particularly enjoyed the look north towards the peaks we had just climbed.

The view up the valley of Route 212 all the way to the astern escarpment.

The day was getting late, and each of us had already been atop Tremper, so we made a hasty descent off the mountain and back to the spotted car.  Hiked about 9 miles total, with 2250 feet of elevation gain.