Best Hidden Runs

[adamti91]

What are the best 'secret' runs (or 'locals only' runs- places most people don't know about) in the Catskills? My favorites are the woods near Deer Run at Belleayre (unimaginative, I know...).

 

[thetrailboss]

Dangerous question to ask.....


Run away, run away.

 

[MadPadraic]

They won't be secret if they are posted here.

 

[adamti91]

Yeah but think about how small a number of people here are spread out over tons of mountains, just AZ members.

 

[millerm277]

I don't think you're going to get any answers online.....although people will probably show you if you meet up with them at the mountains...

There is stuff up there though.....

 

[ski_industry_enthusiast]

Yeah... you're not likely going to get much response here. It's not that anyone's too worried about the AZ members, but this is a public online community. Think of the thousands of lurkers! We don't want them all in our secret locations!

 

[riverc0il]

Yeah but think about how small a number of people here are spread out over tons of mountains, just AZ members.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

there are already way too many people out there that are in the know compared to the limited amount of snow fall and terrain. there are more non-AZ members that probably read this forum than actual participants, least we forget about the google search either. as always, the best way to find stuff is either A) hike mountains yourself during the off season and do some exploring or B) strike up a conversation with someone knowledgeable about the area and make nice with them. the consensus usually is folks with gladly show but never tell.

 

[wintersyndrome]

a friend of mine lives just outside of the catskills and we' have run a powerline trail near his place up there...fun

 

[dmc]

I've always wanted to sride the OTTIS line from Palenville upto northlake..

 

[awf170]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

there are already way too many people out there that are in the know compared to the limited amount of snow fall and terrain. there are more non-AZ members that probably read this forum than actual participants, least we forget about the google search either. as always, the best way to find stuff is either A) hike mountains yourself during the off season and do some exploring or B) strike up a conversation with someone knowledgeable about the area and make nice with them. the consensus usually is folks with gladly show but never tell.

I would add a C:

C) Follow any tracks you see going into the woods and hope you don't get lost and die.

It has actually worked quite well for me so far.

 

[kingslug]

Just grab a mountain bike trail map at Plattekill. Pretty much doubles the terrain. But if you get hurt back there they won't find you until spring.

 

[drewfidelic]

I've always wanted to ride the OTTIS line from Palenville upto northlake..

That could be a very interesting ride...

________
Fetish vid

 

[kbroderick]

I would add a C:

C) Follow any tracks you see going into the woods and hope you don't get lost and die.

It has actually worked quite well for me so far.

Heh.

I did that with my brother and one of his friends, trying to find a line that I know the exit point of, and we ended up bushwhacking for about 20 minutes after the track I was following dead-ended.

Yes, dead-ended. No bootpack out, no scorch marks to indicate spontaneous combustion, just ended. I'm still wondering WTF happened to the rider who made the track; the best suggestion I've heard so far is that he got beamed up.

So be careful--the guy you're following may be just as clueless as you are, and the last thing you want to do is end up in the wrong drainage and/or downhill from the nearest civilization.

 

[riverc0il]

suckah tracks can be dangerous. often times you might be following the tracks that has less of an idea than you do. i always prefer to make my own tracks, pending i know where i am

 

[dmc]

We purposly confuse the tracks to some of our more "hidden" spots...

 

[Skibum_dan]

I’d say hiking the mountains you ski is a big help…
People aren’t going to show everybody and their brother their powder stashes and how to get there.
It’s funny. Some people think that powder hounds are joking when they say “No friends on a powder day” I like to have my close friends with me on a powder day to have but otherwise my lips are tightly sealed.

Perhaps another discussion for this thread could be “How to keep your powder stashes secret”
There are a few access points into some fun woods that are right on the main trail. If there are a bunch of people around, let them pass you before ducking in. Don’t stand near the entrance. Maybe do a couple awkward looking snow plow turns to kill a few seconds and to ensure that they pay you no mind.

 

[kcyanks1]

I would add a C:

C) Follow any tracks you see going into the woods and hope you don't get lost and die.

It has actually worked quite well for me so far.

I'll admit to having used that approach

 

[kingdom-tele]

buy a pair of skins

get some good friends together

grab a beer and some leftovers formthe fridge

get a compass and map

head to your favorite mountain area, take turns setting the skin track

ski laps in open hardwoods or make one long decent

repeat

it is a very different atmosphere out the woods away from the lifts - people are far friendlier and open to helping out or showing you around, even sharing turns,


and there always FRESH

 

[mattlucas]

...like what almost happened to me out of bounds at mad river this spring, because if the elements didn't get me, my brother almost did!

 

[JimG.]

suckah tracks can be dangerous. often times you might be following the tracks that has less of an idea than you do. i always prefer to make my own tracks, pending i know where i am

Agreed; I went against this rule at Wildcat in early April and followed tracks I found into the trees. I was lucky and they were all made by locals who knew where they were going.

But I also had a little map that Andy (NHPH) sent me last year showing me a few spots to check out. So I went to those areas, found the tracks, and followed them. So I wasn't going in totally clueless.