Catskill 3500: Peekamoose and Table Mountains

June 23, 2013

Peekamoose Mountain: 3843 feet

Table Mountain: 3847 feet

Distance: 9.2 Miles Round Trip

Elevation Gain: 2600 feet

Summit of Peekamoose Mountain

Summit of Table Mountain

Comments: Keep your eye out for the Cairns or you'll miss the summits! This is the first hike I've done where the summits do not have views.

Catskill 3500: Wittenberg and Cornell Mountains

June 22, 2013

Wittenberg Mountain: 3780 feet

Cornell Mountain: 3860 feet

Distance: 8.85 miles Round Trip

Elevation Gain: 2514 feet

View from the Summit of Wittenberg

View from the Summit of Cornell 

Comments: One of the most demanding hikes I've ever completed. The view from Wittenberg is my favorite thus far.

Catskill 3500: Slide Mountain

Date: June 21, 2013

Slide Mountain: 4180 feet

Distance: 5.5 miles Round Trip

Elevation Gain: 1749 feet  

View from the Summit

Comments: Bug Party at the summit!

Catskill 3500

The Catskill High Peaks are all of the mountains in New York's Catskill Mountains above 3,500 feet in elevation whose summits are separated either by one-half mile or a vertical drop of at least 250 feet between it and the next nearest separate summit. 

There are 35 peaks that meet these criteria with the highest peak being Slide Mountain topping out at 4,180 feet. The peaks can be broken into 3 general zones: northern, central and southern. 

This weekend was my first visit to the Catskills. I met some awesome people on the trail and at Woodland Valley Campground, drank some good beer in Phoenicia and New Patlz and hiked five high peaks. I learned quickly that hiking "The Cats" is no joke. The trails go straight up!

I'll be documenting my trips to the Catskills here as I move toward the goal of climbing all 35 high peaks.

just words

I've been holding on to these pieces of paper. There are words written on them. They've brought me both comfort and sadness. I don't know why I've kept them.

Something has changed in me. It feels like it's happened over night. I'm sure it has been a gradual shift. I just realized it today.

We're not who we were yesterday. How boring would life be if we always stayed the same? Perhaps I have tried to make exceptions. Perhaps that is the reason why I have held on to these words.

Restroom Rules

Have you ever exited a public restroom and asked yourself the question "What is wrong with people?" Lately, I've been wondering what it is about public restrooms that make people forget how to properly use the toilet. 

Keeping with that theme...a few days ago, my friend sent me this photo (taken in a public restroom) and asked me if it qualified for The Tumbleweave Diaries. 

I started to think more about the things that people do while (they think) no one is looking. My worst offense to date is grabbing a handful of chocolate covered almonds from the bulk bin at Wegmans. How about you?

Face to Face

There are panhandlers stationed at various locations throughout the city. One of the most popular spots is at the light immediately after crossing the Ben Franklin Bridge.

I always dread when I'm stopped here because of the awkward exchange that takes place as someone passes by my window with a paper cup and cardboard sign. I've fiddled with the radio, pretended to be on the phone, and acted as if no one was there. It's not very often that I have spare change, but when I do, I'll toss it their way. Regardless of what I do, it's always an uncomfortable situation.

The other day I read an op-ed piece from the NY Times entitled "How Not To Be Alone." If I had a bible, this would be a page right from it. While it didn't necessarily speak on the topic of panhandlers, it did touch on humanity and the way in which technology has altered our ability to feel.

I thought about this later in the afternoon as I crossed the bridge into Philadelphia. I stopped at the light and was approached by a panhandler. I had nothing to give him, but looked him in the eye and told him so. To which he replied "God bless you, have a good day." The light changed and I was on my way, feeling a little more connected.

Hardly Speaking a Word

Thinking about the loss of power that is associated with losing your voice. Thinking about the empowerment that comes from speaking up. Sometimes, silence is the most powerful statement. 

Defending yourself is a natural response when you feel like you are being misrepresented. It's not fair. It's frustrating Eventually, you reach an end where you realize that your words mean nothing. That's the place I found myself...so I chose not to use them at all and let my actions be my voice.

I've always felt like as long as I was a good person and treated people with kindness, that everything in life would fall into place. That may sound foolish to a lot of people, but it keeps me living day to day with a sense of peace. I don't worry too much about what's down the road. I don't worry too much about things I have no control over.

I've waited out some storms in my time. They've lasted as long as three years. I am patient. Lately, I've gotten the sense that another storm has passed. 

lawn ball

Random questions pop into my head from time to time...Why did Darius Rucker decide to go country? Wasn't Hootie and the Blowfish bad enough? And, while Google is really smart, it doesn't have the answer to all of my questions. 

The other day I was taking a walk in my neighborhood and encountered three "lawn balls" in a two block span. Besides being ugly, I never understood their function. Are they art? Do they scare away the birds? 

Google: "Lawn Ball" 
Result: Nothing helpful, but a bunch of information on lawn bowling. 

Google: "What is the purpose of a lawn ball?" 
Result: "Can someone explain lawn balls?" Ahhhh…getting warmer! It seems as though they go by several different names, including gazing ball and yard globe. 

Now, on to Wikipedia...Gazing balls originated in 13th century Venice where they were hand-blown by skilled Italian craftsmen. King Ludwig II of Bavaria, sometimes referred to as Mad King Ludwig, adorned his Herrenchiemsee palace with lawn balls. Thereafter, they became a fixture of European gardens and are associated with Victorian era English gardens in particular.