The overnight camping trip to Slide Mountain was organized primarily by Tim Loizeaux, Sr. (T.R), beginning in the mid 1940s. It became an annual event every summer for many years after that. His children participated every year from the time they were old enough to hike the long trail over all four mountains: Cornell, Look Out, Wittenberg and Slide. The younger children took a shorter route which went up Slide Mountain only. Other youngsters from the Beaverkill Valley were included in these treks and the number varied each year depending upon who chose to participate. Generally, there were about a dozen in the group. No matter how many times you went, you returned with fond memories of this summer adventure.

The Loizeaux family gathered all the camping necessities before the scheduled day of the outing. Back then there were no sleeping bags or disposable eating utensils and dishes. So on this rustic camping trip, we had to bring pots for cooking, dishes and eating utensils, and easily prepared food for supper and breakfast. These items were packed in rucksacks and carried by the stronger older boys. Everyone else carried their own tightly rolled up blanket balanced around their shoulder with the ends tied by clothesline. Those who rolled the blankets had to make sure they were tight enough to pass muster for T.R. Sometimes it took several attempts to finally get the blanket rolled satisfactorily. To quote one blanket roller, “How I hated those confounded bed rolls!”

On the scheduled day, two cars were loaded up with Loizeauxs, assorted kids from the valley, all the camping gear, and away we went. We drove from the Beaverkill Valley to Route 206, on to Routes 30 and 28 until we reached the bottom of the first mountain, Cornell. After unloading the cars, we ate a small picnic lunch of sandwiches. Rucksacks and blanket rolls were distributed and we set out on the long afternoon hike. The weather was usually warm, but not so hot that the salt pills Mr. Loizeaux carried were needed. The higher elevation and the sunset made the night air considerably cooler and our jackets and sweaters were welcomed additions.

The trail was well marked and easy to follow. Ascending and descending the Cornell and Look Out Mountain trails was not too difficult. Certain places along the way provided chances to rest and get small drinks of water from the natural springs. Some springs were in the midst of rock formations with little pools of water; one was sheltered within exposed pine tree roots and that particular water appeared brownish with a pine taste to it. Even though it looked strange and smelled funny, it was perfectly safe to drink. By mid afternoon, only Wittenberg and Slide mountains remained to climb. Slide Mountain is the tallest mountain in the Catskills, rising to 4180 feet. Wittenberg was taller than the first two, and now the trail began to become steeper. By the time we began the ascent up Slide, we knew a real challenge loomed ahead. Some spots had special ladder like steps to help the climber; other places it was a matter of grabbing saplings and hauling yourself over the rocks to sure footing above. Just when you wondered if you would ever get to the top, suddenly, you were there! The campsite lay before you; a stone fireplace to cook over, the lean-to for sleeping and the ranger's tower near by.

There was no time for resting, because several things had to be done right away. T.R. designated the tasks. Water needed to be fetched from the nearby spring. One time someone had disturbed the water in the spring and it was full of sand and grit. Eventually, the stirred up sand settled and water in the pool was clear and usable again and could be brought up for cooking. One camper vividly remembers that occurrence and it never happened again. Others of us were assigned to go find balsam branches to lay across the lean-to floor and then spread the blankets on top, for this was going to be our bed for the night. Others went to gather wood for the fire and started preparing our picnic supper of hamburgers and hotdogs. It was totally dark by the time this all was done and the dishes were “scrubbed.” The only light was from the dying ambers of the fire where the prunes were stewing for breakfast in the morning.

After awhile, it was time to settle in for the night. The sleeping arrangement never changed from one year to the next: Mr. Loizeaux in the middle, the boys on one side and the girls on the other. Everyone had to remove their shoes. Bodies squirmed around trying to get comfortable and covered to stay warm. Hearing the various unfamiliar night noises didn't help much either, so we all slept fitfully through the night.

When the sky lightened in the east, it was time to get up. Someone lit the fire, breakfast food was assembled and the smells of cooking bacon, pancakes, coffee and cocoa filled the air. The prunes stewed the night before were ready too.

At first, when you looked out over the mountains, all you could see was the mist covering the valleys below. As soon as the sun rose, the view changed considerably. This scene of the new dawn and sunrise is the one that every camper remembers vividly. You suddenly realized just how high up you were when you could see the mountain range below with its peaks and valleys bathed in brilliant sunlight. As one camper put it, ”It was absolutely spectacular.” Another recalled, ”My most lasting memory of the trek is the sight of the sunrise over the Catskills below us. A treasure!” You forgot the weariness of the previous day's long hike, the clutching, grabbing and struggle for those last few footholds to the top. Here before us lay the unsurpassed beauty of a summer sunrise in the heart of the Catskill Mountains . Was it worth it? Absolutely!

Now it was time to clean up and gather everything together to head home. The two older Loizeaux boys went back down the long trail, empty handed, as they had to go get the cars and drive them around to the bottom of Slide where we would meet them. For one last memorable view, we climbed the steps to the top of the ranger's tower. You could feel the tower swaying in the wind as you looked out in all directions. The rucksacks and blanket rolls were distributed among the rest of us. Soon we set out single file down the “short trail.” Once, our leader stopped suddenly and motioned the rest of us to quietly step forward to see a doe and her fawn grazing near the trail. Of course, the second they became aware of us, they bounded away. By the time our group reached the bottom of the mountain, it wasn't too long before the boys arrived with the cars. We loaded the cars with the rucksacks, the blanket rolls, (no need to worry how tight they were now), and piled in ourselves for the drive home.

Mr. Loizeaux led these excursions for many years. Some of his children went every year, the “kids from the valley” went sometimes one year, two or maybe three. A fitting tribute to “T.R.” would be to quote his daughter, Ellen:

“How one man could lead so many kids up a mountain for an overnight is amazing, but to us it was normal. And we never thought that there could have been an emergency. Those things just didn't happen. How lucky we were to have had that opportunity.”