The Lostkills

A complete guide to hiking and bushwhacking the lesser-known Catskill peaks.

The Lostkills introduces readers to a mostly unknown group of Catskill peaks on public land in addition to some lightly used trails. Alan Via refers to these places as "the Lostkills" as they include off-the-beaten-path hikes, mostly bushwhacks to smaller mountain summits. They are largely unexplored by the hiking community. The Lostkills opens with sections about map and compass usage, electronic navigation, and off-trail safety and equipment. Each hike has a rating for difficulty, bushwhack conditions, navigational challenges, views, points of interest, and a topographic map specifically designed for it. There are suggested routes with alternatives as well as the best time of year or season to hike. All hikes are written from a hiker's point of view to better prepare for what to expect, from start to summit. The result is a comprehensive guidebook that allows readers to select the bushwhack or hike that best suits them.