February 18, 09.
Pratt Rock, Prattsville NY.
Instead of going skiing on this bright, warm and sunny day my family and friends decided to take a Hike! Not having time to research what's around and not really wanting to go for a long one, we decided to head to Prattsville from Ashland. All of 7 miles!
First a Little history behind Zadock Pratt.
Zadock Pratt was a wealthy entrepreneur, congressman and husband of five wives.
He ran the biggest shoe leather tannery in the world was his biggest fan and loved to promote himself.
The story goes that one day in 1843 a jobless man asked Zadock for a handout. Pratt, who believed in workfare not welfare, asked the man what he did for a living. When the man replied that he was a stonecutter, Zadock pointed to the cliff overlooking his 350-acre farm and told him to start carving Zadock's life story. The luckless laborer didn't stop until Zadock finally died, 28 years later.
Pratt is the Father of the US Bureau of Statistics.
The carvings, which include Zadock, his son, a horse, and a brawny arm holding a sledgehammer. There is a serpentine path up the hill that allows for close-up inspection and a dizzying view of the Schoharie River below.
The path is narrow, steep and crumbly, and forks just up the first incline. Taking a right will lead you up under the main carvings and give you an up close and personal look. You can proceed along that path, however if you have beginner hikers it will get a little tight and narrow. It will eventually switch back and provide you access to the top of the rocks which provide a great view of the River and valley below.
A better plan, if you are with the less adventure minded, is to double back down the hill, to the earlier mentioned fork and go Right. This route is much easier, and will take you up through the woods and provide The same access to the rocks above. There are many great places to pick nick there on sunny day so pack a light lunch and enjoy.
Trail length is about 1/4 mile to the top with the round trip just under 1/2 mile. Hokey but I enjoyed it due to the company.
Tim
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