We continued on the blue marked trail from Layman’s Monument and reached an unnamed lookout point. This view is along the blue marked trail. I took a panoramic photo of the landscape with my father situated in the far left of the photo. The sun was low in sky and it was difficult to get a good exposure and the panoramic photo does have some harsh sun flare. Several waterfalls can be seen in the distance from this particular spot. In the panoramic photo several houses are visible and these homeowners must have gorgeous view 365 days a year.
From the unnamed lookout we travel away from the mountain ledge.
From the blue blazed trail we then proceeded on a yellow marked trail. This trail took us to Sunset Rock and Inspiration Point. Robert Gildersleeve writes about these locations in detail in his book titled Catskill Mountain House- Trail Guide. This is a well written book by Robert Gildersleeve and I do recommend it.
The next few images posted are from Sunset Rock, Inspiration Point, and a location near to what was the former location of Inspiration Point. The Catskill Mountain House Trail Guide has a lot information and facts regarding these vista points.
Robert Gildersleeve writes on page 97 of the Catskill Mountain House Trail Guide: “…the confusion over the name of this site inspired this book”. Robert Gildersleeve is referring to Inspiration Point.
————
The picture below shows my father standing at the location currently named Sunset Rock:
The picture below shows my father standing at the location currently named Inspiration Point:
The photo below is very near to the former site that held the name of Inspiration Point. The bottom photo shows Route 23 running through Kaaterskill Clove as viewed from former Inspiration Point.
Layman’s Monument
Layman’s Monument can be best reached either from Laurel House Road or Scutt Road. On this outing we reached Layman’s Monument by parking at the end of Scutt Road. (Note there is limited parking at this location. It probably is best to park at the designated Scutt Road parking area.) Near the end of the road there is a path that leads to a footbridge. Facing the end of the road this path will be on your left. There are several paths that take you from Scutt Road to the hiking trail. These paths include two old railroad right of ways. These railroads are the former Ulster & Delaware Railroad and the Catskill & Tannersville Railway. Cross the footbridge and walk to a trail intersection turning right and then follow the blue marked trail. The trail markers are well laid out and there is a sign with mileage and arrows pointing to Layman’s Monument. Note when you approach Spruce Creek along the trail and come to a large man-made rock foundation the trail follows uphill. It does not follow Spruce Creek at this point. The blue markers can be missed at this section.
Layman’s Monument has a nice view of the western head of Kaaterskill Clove. The parking area for Kaaterskill Falls is below.
History:
The Frank D. Layman Memorial is a historic monument located in Hunter, New York. The monument was erected in 1901 to commemorate Frank D. Layman, who died on the site of the memorial on August 10, 1900 while fighting a forest fire. The monument is pyramidal in shape, four-sided, and rises upward from a base approximately seven feet in diameter to approximately 11 feet. (Source: Wikipedia)
Frank Layman Monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
Recent News:
In 2008 a Boy Scout working on his Eagle project decided to help restore the Frank Layman Monument.
‘Daniel Coughlin, a resident of Palenville and a member of Troop 131, Saugerties, is working on his promotion to Eagle Scout, and said he selected restoring Layman’s Monument as his community service project to attain that rank.’
Read more at Life Scout to restore Layman’s Monument on South Mountain
Inscription on Layman’s Monument reads:
IN MEMORY OF
FRANK D. LAYMAN.
OF HAINES FALLS.
WHO LOST HIS LIFE ON
THIS SPOT AUG. 10, 1900.
WHILE WITH OTHERS
FIGHTING A FOREST FIRE
WHICH THREATENED TO
DESTROY THE HOMES AND
BUSINESS INTERESTS OF
THE PEOPLE OF THIS PLACE
BY THOSE GRATEFUL
FOR HIS DEVOTED SERVICE
THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED.
A map detailing our hike from Scutt Road to Layman Monument ending at Inspiration Point:
