West Cave Mountain(Catskills)

With a small window of time after work I opted to head south to hike a tiny sliver of public land up the south slopes of 3040 foot West Cave Mountain in the Catskills.  West Cave Mountain is far better known for its north facing slopes which form part of the Windham Ski Area.  I started from a small unmarked parking area off of Goshen Street in the town of Jewett, where NYC watershed land provides access via an old tote road.  Elevation at the parking area is 2030 feet.  With rain knocking on the doorstep, I quickly threw on my jacket and headed up the old road, with only an inch or two of snow on the ground.

The old tote road literally heads north, straight up the slopes of the mountain.  At about 2600 feet, the trail comes to a large bend and steeper area.

Once above the steeper section, the snow got a few inches deeper and views of the nearby peaks to the south began to poke out above the trees.

Ah, yes, the views were only getting better as the road climbed.

Just shy of 2900 feet and after less than a mile of climbing, I arrived in an enormous clearing, with tremendous views.  Some of the very best I've seen in the Catskills.  Tower Mountain(L) with westerly views stretching all the way over to Grand Gorge.

The most dominating feature of this clearing was the Colonel's Chair of Hunter Mountain and Rusk Mountain immediately to the south.

A zoom view towards the ski slopes of the Colonel's Chair, with swirling storm clouds moving in.

Tower Mountain and Patterson Ridge are directly in front of you to the west with Bearpen and Vly in the distance.

 

To the SE, East Jewett Range and Onteora Mountain spread out before you.  

A neat look east towards Thomas Cole Mountain, whose summit is in the clouds at just below 4000 feet.

Storm clouds brewing.  Luckily temps in the upper 30's meant just rain(with a little freezing rain up high).

An amazing place.  No exaggeration when I say this could be my favorite place in the Catskills.  Simply incredible.

Some of Ski Windham's slopes can be seen on neighboring Cave Mountain(with Thomas Cole Mountain beyond).

After enjoying the unbelievable views, I continued the last 2/10 of a mile up to the summit.  The last 1/10 was a true bushwhack, but within a matter of moments, the quiet woods are replaced with gondolas and skiers at the top.

I did a quick check of the ski slopes(staying off the groomed slopes) and enjoyed the north facing view over the village of Windham, with Richmond, Pisgah and Hayden to the north.

As I left the summit, a light rain began to move in, so I quickly descended the mountain, making it back in no time.  Found a classic Catskill stone wall near the parking area, completing a nice and easy, but spectacular adventure.

About 2.3 miles RT, with just over 1000 feet of ascent.