Author Archives: John Ferguson

Worth the Trip: Peekamoose 52

2 Replies

(Retrospective note: I have also mapped this complete route out of Poughkeepsie. You can find it here.)

This past Sunday, I was fortunate enough to have excellent weather for what I thought would be a quick 52-mile ride up and over Peekamoose Road, a narrow, poorly maintained road passing through the Catskills. This was the route I developed on Ride With GPS; I planned from the beginning to follow it only loosely because I wanted to explore some of the side roads that extend off of Peekamoose into the deep mountains.

route-1841918-map-full

I had planned on getting an early start. However, my wonderful girlfriend decided to cook me breakfast, so it wasn’t until 10 am that I set out with a belly full of pancakes and fruit salad.

The route starts with Grassy Ridge Road, a rolling but easy warmup for what’s to come. I definitely needed the warmup after that breakfast.

1. Grassy Ridge Road

We continue on High Point Mountain Road, which leads past the Ashokan Reservoir. This is the low point of the ride. Not emotionally…in elevation.

4. Ashokan Reservoir from High Point Mountain Road

Watson Hollow Road leads into the mountains. I took my first detour here onto Moon Haw Road, which leads high into the mountains and ends in what looks like a few trails into the park.

6. Watson Hollow Road

8. Headed into the Mountains

7. Headed into the Mountains

The climbing begins with a slow and painful crawl up Peekamoose. The climb is steady from mile 8.0 to mile 13; maximum grade, 16.5%. I was swearing at myself by the time I got to the top, and I took a few moments to contemplate the sheer stupidity of what I do for fun. As a note, you’ll want to carry ample water and perhaps some food if you are taking this route during the off season, as there are no convenience stores for a refresh. During the season, you’ll see a shed at about the half way point, run by a local who sells the basics.

11. Peekamoose

9. Peekamoose

Once you make it the top, though, you are rewarded with a high-speed 7-mile descent into the next big climb, and some very nice scenery.

If you’re using my GPS route (link below), note that your GPS will occassionally indicate that you are off course. You’re not, and your GPS will find the route again in a few seconds. It’s not like there are any other roads to take, anyway.

12. Peekamoose

13. Peekamoose Waterfall

Peekamoose tops out at 2100 feet after a second climb (not as brutal as the first). I know it’s not much compared with the Rockies, but it’s what we have to work with. From what I understand, though, the roads around here are a lot less forgiving–that is to say, the people who planned and built them didn’t give a damn about extended 15% to 22% grades (more about that later, when I write about Platte Clove).

Here’s the view from the top of the ride.

14. At the top of Peekamoose

From Peekamoose, I turned onto Mill Road, which after a terrifying descent on broken pavement quickly turns into gravel. At exactly the wrong time, meaning just when you’ve hit 50 mph from the descent.

16. Mill Road

From there, it’s a quick trip on Route 55 to Naponach and a diner with edible food. You’re looking at the Gunks in this photo; if you continue on 55 you can climb up and over, ending up in New Paltz and, ultimately, Poughkeepsie. There are easier ways to get there, though.

19. 55 Going into Naponach

The route as shown is 53 miles. With exploratory detours, I rode 72 miles with about 7300 feet of climbing. Not counting the 5-mile section on route 209, I probably saw 10-15 cars the entire day.

A good day.

This route is definitely worth your while. Add in a trip to and from Poughkeepsie (preferably over the Gunks) and you can have a great 100-mile day. I’ll post later this month on good routes from Poughkeepsie to the starting points of my rides.

The complete GPS route can be found here.

John
medicalwriter.net

Ride Report: First sub-32 degree ride of the season

Leave a reply

Every year, I turn into a chicken in late November when the weather starts getting really cold. I start thinking up excuses not to ride, and I’ll even skip one or two. I always get over it after a week or two of cold weather, after I realize that—provided I’m dressed properly—I’m not going to die after all. In fact, riding in the cold is a blast.

Today was my first sub-freezing ride of the season. It was only 26 miles, and it might have been 33 or 34 degrees in the sun, but it was pretty damn cold with the wind. I started at my place in Olivebridge, and hit about 10 miles of gravel, starting with Woodland Road, which leads past So-Hi campground.

Unfortunately, the two great parts of the route are linked by Route 209, which has relatively heavy traffic but wide shoulders. I continued on route 209 for 6 miles, and then took a right on Mettacahonts to head back home. The fun begins at Bakerstown Road.

Dug Road. There’s a good climb to get up here. I’m usually accompanied by Dug the dog. I don’t know who owns him (actually her) but she’s always running around in this area. One time she followed me at about 15-20 mph for over 3 miles. She looked tired and was panting really hard, so I let her lap Gatoraid out of the top of my water bottle.

Dug Road peaks with a nice view of the Catskills

Dug leads into Sundale Road. Getting closer to home. I still can’t believe I live here!

And finally Lower Sahler Mill Road. Good trout fishing in the stream to the right.

Here’s the chariot. I’m going to remove the ugly damn Zipp stickers.

In any case, I’m now over my annual case of cold-induced anxiety. At the end of my ride it was 26 degrees and I was fine. In fact, better than last year since I finally gave in and bought some neoprene booties.

Here’s the route. I changed the starting point to Stone Ridge for those of you who are interested in riding these roads.

GPS coordinates can be found here.

…and I promise to fill you in on much longer rides—ones that are worth the trip out here—in the near future.

John

www.medicalwriter.net

Introduction

1 Reply

On September 17, 2012, I finally left New York City behind and moved to Olivebridge, New York. I had been riding up here for years, always taking the train from Grand Central and then leaving from Poughkeepsie. I always had this notion that someday I’d live here. Well, here I am in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, and this is the view from my window.

And why not? Our neighborhood—South Street Seaport—was going the way of the East Village circa 2003, mostly due to the fact that the fish market had moved out. We both work from home and have no particular reason to be in the city any more.

We were particularly lucky because, just a few weeks after we moved, our neighborhood was flooded and our building was rendered more-or-less permanently uninhabitable.

I’ll be honest: I mostly moved up here because of the riding. This blog will focus on riding in the Catskills, particularly the rough and dirty rides on back roads, on gravel, and occasionally cross country (although the latter is almost always accidental).

I’ve had a chance to ride most everywhere in the Tristate area and beyond, and—take it from me—this is the best riding to be found in three states, and perhaps anywhere in the US. All of it accessible by train from New York. I’ll try to provide guidance on the best rides, where to start, where to refill your water bottles and eat, and what to avoid, and I’ll include maps and GPS files. I’ll also talk about my bikes, post an occasional product review, and lots of pictures of animals.

Enjoy!

John

www.medicalwriter.net