Catskill 3500, #11 and #12. Big Indian and Fir Mountains

This past weekend I decided to knock off two bushwhacks from my Catskill 3500 list. The plan was to backpack up to the summit of Big Indian, cross over east to Fir, and then back down.

I was excited to get away from the humidity of NYC but unfortunately, it was incredibly humid up in the Catskills. I never felt it cool down the whole ride up. Not a good sign.

Upon arriving at the Biscuit Brook DEC parking lot, I de-suited, switched into my hiking clothes, saddled up the backpack, and headed up the road to the Pine Hill West Branch trailhead. Yep, it was super humid. Within 15 minutes, I was drenched in sweat and it was like this the entire trip. Lots of black flies, gnats, and mosquitos also.

Rain was in the forecast, so I wrapped up the backpack in a waterproof trash bag.
Rain was in the forecast, so I wrapped up the backpack in a waterproof trash bag.
Arriving at the DEC Biscuit Brook parking lot. There's a convenient porta-potty for last minute necessities.
Arriving at the DEC Biscuit Brook parking lot. There’s a convenient porta-potty for last minute necessities.
It's a short jaunt up the ride to the blue blazed Pine Hill West Branch trailhead.
It’s a short jaunt up the ride to the blue blazed Pine Hill West Branch trailhead.
The Register Box at the blue blazed Pine Hill West Branch trailhead.
The Register Box at the blue blazed Pine Hill West Branch trailhead.
The first two miles of the Pine Hill West Branch trail is a fairly gentle uphill climb.
The first two miles of the Pine Hill West Branch trail is a fairly gentle uphill climb.
The day was incredibly humid, you can see the moisture hanging in the air.
The day was incredibly humid, you can see the moisture hanging in the air.
One of many stream crossings on the Pine Hill West Branch trail.
One of many stream crossings on the Pine Hill West Branch trail.
There were a few steep sections along the Pine Hill West Branch trail.
There were a few steep sections along the Pine Hill West Branch trail.
Water was extremely plentiful for the initial 4.5 miles of the Pine Hill West Branch trail.
Water was extremely plentiful for the initial 4.5 miles of the Pine Hill West Branch trail.
The 3500 foot elevation marker on the Pine Hill West Branch trail.
The 3500 foot elevation marker on the Pine Hill West Branch trail.

My first destination was the summit of Big Indian Mountain. Technically, it is a bushwhack but coming from Biscuit Brook, 99% of the approach is along the blue blazed trail. A herd path branches off about 4.5 miles past the trailhead and goes off for, at most, 1/4 mile before reaching the summit. I can’t imagine an easier bushwhack.

A herd path suddenly appears that'll take one to the summit of Big Indian Mountain.
A herd path suddenly appears that’ll take one to the summit of Big Indian Mountain.
The herd path to the summit of Big Indian is very well defined and very short, only about 1/4 mile.
The herd path to the summit of Big Indian is very well defined and very short, only about 1/4 mile.
Success! Signing in at the Big Indian Mountain gray bushwhack canister.
Success! Signing in at the Big Indian Mountain gray bushwhack canister.

From there, I continued my journey east towards Fir Mountain. Now began the true bushwhack. The herd path quickly disappeared and I had to rely on my compass to ensure that I was moving in the correct direction. The plan was to make it to the low point where Big Indian and Fir met, and set up camp for the night. Unfortunately, thunder quickly rolled in as I started down Big Indian. A major thunderstorm appeared to be looming. I didn’t want to get caught in it and since I was planning on setting camp soon, I decided to stop and drop. I was on some level ground and wasn’t sure that I’d have better options until the valley which would require me backpacking through the storm.

A herd path going off in the direction of Fir Mountain.
A herd path going off in the direction of Fir Mountain.

Space was very tight and the stakes wouldn’t bite due to the ground being all leaves, but I got the ZPacks Duplex pitched. I hung the bear bag and my sweat drenched clothes and retired for the night just as the rain picked up.

Setting up camp for the night with the ZPacks Duplex.
Setting up camp for the night with the ZPacks Duplex.
Hanging the bear bag to keep all food out of the tent for the night.
Hanging the bear bag to keep all food out of the tent for the night.
A closeup of my homemade waterproof cuben fiber bear bag. No, this is not how I hung it for the night.
A closeup of my homemade waterproof cuben fiber bear bag. No, this is not how I hung it for the night.

Bright and early the next morning, I packed up and headed over to Fir Mountain. Using my compass, I tried to still upon the Catskill Divide ridge as best as possible as it links the two summits. This was a true bushwhack. Every great once in a while, I would come upon a herd path but it never lasted long. The majority of the trip involved pushing through deep brush, thick tree layers, and jockeying over rock ledges. At one point, I fell down into a gully trying to jump across a ravine and had to administer some minor first aid.

Sunday morning. Time to pack up and head east to Fir Mountain.
Sunday morning. Time to pack up and head east to Fir Mountain.
Bushwhacking through some tough terrain on the way to the summit of Fir Mountain.
Bushwhacking through some tough terrain on the way to the summit of Fir Mountain.
Every great once in a while, a herd path would appear. These were very short and very infrequent.
Every great once in a while, a herd path would appear. These were very short and very infrequent.
Bushwhacking through some dense foliage.
Bushwhacking through some dense foliage.
Bushwhacking through some dense foliage.
Bushwhacking through some dense foliage.

It was slow going but I made it to the Fir Mountain gray canister around 12:30pm. It was tricky to find but you have to just keep going up. One thing to note is that there were no water sources. The day before was abundant but not today.

Bushwhack success!!! Signing in at the gray canister at the summit of Fir Mountain.
Bushwhack success!!! Signing in at the gray canister at the summit of Fir Mountain.

After a short rest and requisite photography, I began the descent back to the parking lot. The plan was to go south west until intersecting the Pine Hill West Branch trail near the shelter and then take the blazed trail back to the bike. I followed the herd path leading from the summit for perhaps a half hour but then it disappeared. I was now back to bushwhacking and a noticeable decline in pace.

Encountering a deer as I'm heading south down Fir Mountain.
Encountering a deer as I’m heading south down Fir Mountain.
Coming upon Biscuit Brook. This was a bit of a precarious crossing.
Coming upon Biscuit Brook. This was a bit of a precarious crossing.

The descent was steep and long. After a few hours, I came upon a brook and filled up with fresh water. I moved further down and waded across Biscuit Brook and on to the Pine Hill trail. From there, it was two miles back to the bike.

A Biscuit Brook waterfall.
A Biscuit Brook waterfall.
Intersecting with the Pine Hill West Branch trail after bushwhacking down Fir Mountain.
Intersecting with the Pine Hill West Branch trail after bushwhacking down Fir Mountain.
Heading back on the Pine Hill West Branch trail to the Biscuit Brook DEC parking lot.
Heading back on the Pine Hill West Branch trail to the Biscuit Brook DEC parking lot.

Sunday was a tough day. It took me approximately 11 hours to bushwhack from Big Indian to Fir to the parking lot. Very slow going but exhilarating, nonetheless. I switched out of my drenched clothes and into my bike gear, and headed home excited about the shower soon to be had.

The Register Box is a beautiful sight at the end of two long days of backpacking and bushwhacking.
The Register Box is a beautiful sight at the end of two long days of backpacking and bushwhacking.
The elevation graph of my trek up and down Big Indian and Fir Mountains in the Catskills.
The elevation graph of my trek up and down Big Indian and Fir Mountains in the Catskills.
My trek up and down Big Indian and Fir Mountains in the Catskills according to Google Earth.
My trek up and down Big Indian and Fir Mountains in the Catskills according to Google Earth.

2 Replies to “Catskill 3500, #11 and #12. Big Indian and Fir Mountains”

  1. Wow – amazing and yes, what a wonderful weekend that would have been and how welcome the shower at the end. Good on you – Thanks for sharing the photos. Sometime you should try Australian bushwalking. Not so much water but we can probably match the mosquitos!
    Sydneysider

    1. I would love to go walkabout!!! Me and the dingos. 🙂 However, I suspect that your mosquitos are 10X the size of ours. I hate mosquitos.

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