Hey - What's that orange cannister?

I was out hiking early March. Exploring the Catskills a bit. Stretching my legs so to speak. There was still some snow up high. After reviewing some options I decided to hit Hunter Mountain and ultimately South West Hunter. It was a bit of a challenge making my way up, but I as I reached the flatter portions up top I began to really enjoy the hike. It was beautiful weather, good little hints of a view.

Following AllTrails I took the path towards SW Hunter not entirely realizing it was a “trailless” peak, a term I’d come to know a bit more in the upcoming months. There were no blazes to follow, just a rail of packed down ice and snow. It made for good walking and good pathfinding. And then it shot up the mountain, with everyone seemingly having picked their own path. I quickly lost the nice packed down rail and stumbled up my own path only to see an orange beacon at the top. My first trailless peak, marked by the iconic orange cannister containing a trail register and some goodies.

I didn’t even sign it. I wasn’t sure what it was exactly. What was the Catskill 3500? Who were these people? I’m out hiking every weekend, why don’t I know about this?

My mind was so focused on it for the rest of the hike. Cruising over icy steps, making my way up to Hunter and it’s firetower, through the firs and lovely smelling air… Should I have signed that book in the cannister?

When I got home I began to research. The Catskill 3500 club. Or is it the Catskills 3500 club? 35 hikes, 33 mountains. 3,500 feet. Thats not so bad? 4 in the winter? I do that already. Its a lot of driving. Maybe over two years?

I’m already hiking every nearly every weekend. I was proud of my 38+ month streak in AllTrails I made up my mind. I can do this? Its a few hikes. I’m hiking already, right? I can do this within the year. What a goal that would be! That’s 35 weekends, tops. Easy. Besides I already did 2 of them!

And so it began. The year’s long process of maintaining a spreadsheet, tracking hikes, taking notes. Becoming a more confident, safer, hiker. I refreshed my orientation skills, bought a new compass and a Catskills Trail Map.

Renewed focus, a refreshed goal. Something to look forward to. The Catskill 3500 Club.