The Artful Dodger Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 Hi all THis upcoming Spring/Summer I intend to do a lot of weekend/long-weekend backpacking and hiking(and geocaching, of course ) . Since I am relatively new to the NorthEast NJ area, does anyone have some good recommedations of some good trails? I have purchased some maps of the Delaware Water Gap area and the Catskills. Do you have a favorite? A geocacher I met on the trails highly recommended the Catskills. Perhaps a few geocachers could be enticed to make a good weekend of it outdoors.... Thanks AD p.s. I have my second Grand Canyon backpacking trip all booked - can't wait for that one! Quote Link to comment
blind-dog Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 Get a map of Bear Mnt State park. There are tons of trails, most have shelters. I did a lot of backpacking there when I was a scout.Good luck! Quote Link to comment
+Harrald Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 Since you have seen most of the trails around where we live you might want to check out the Catskills. Mt. Tremper is a great hike. There is a smoke tower ot the top that lets you see for miles. Good luck ==================================== As always, the above statements are just MHO. ==================================== Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted March 19, 2002 Share Posted March 19, 2002 Hey Dodger, it's BrianSnat. I may have been the Geocacher who recommended the Catskills to you, as they are a favorite of mine. There are some excellent overnight trips (the Indian Head Mtn loop comes immediatley to mind)and an number of fantastic multi-day trips. I'm itching to get out there myself as soon as ski season winds down. I know the Catskills quite well and would be happy to join you and any other Geocachers on an overnighter. If you havn't been there, you will be quite surprised at how beautiful the area is Quote Link to comment
The Artful Dodger Posted March 19, 2002 Author Share Posted March 19, 2002 quote:Originally posted by BrianSnat: Hey Dodger, it's BrianSnat. I may have been the Geocacher who recommended the Catskills to you, as they are a favorite of mine. I know the Catskills quite well and would be happy to join you and any other Geocachers on an overnighter. Hey BrianSnat! Yep, it was you who reminded me about the Catskills. I might just take you up on that overnight offer - the more the merrier. Let's talk more as Spring approaches... Any other geocachers out there interested in a weekend backpacking trip sometime in Spring/Summer? Quote Link to comment
+ROCKY Posted March 20, 2002 Share Posted March 20, 2002 In Upstate New York, south of Rochester check out the East side of the Gorge at Letchworth State Park. A portion on the Finger Lakes Trail follows this Grand Canyon of the East. Also several Caches in the area including one of mine, Hogs Back Vistas Quote Link to comment
+DxChallenged Posted March 20, 2002 Share Posted March 20, 2002 Hey! I've been to Hogs Back Vist and must say that it is ab. fab.........you just have to do it!! Many caches and great trails in letchworth the terrain is nice and varied as well from a 1 1/2 all the way to a 4...we've done most and you can't beat the scenery...perhaps fall is the most spectacular because of the leaves but it really is beautiful all the time.... That being said......We finished the Lord of the Rings multicache in Erie PA. Took the family just over 4 hours to complete it. Beautiful park. Many trails. Excellant area for services close by as well........you would need tick spray..and to check the cache page for needed details but I would also recommend that one to everyone! Dx "Have you no news on your travels?" the Book of fairy & folk tales of Ireland (1888) Quote Link to comment
+Mopar Posted March 24, 2002 Share Posted March 24, 2002 quote:Originally posted by The Artful Dodger: Any other geocachers out there interested in a weekend backpacking trip sometime in Spring/Summer? Dodger, keep me posted on this! Illegitimus non carborundum! Quote Link to comment
+bldebabe Posted March 25, 2002 Share Posted March 25, 2002 There's a great trail at Shawangunk Ridge near New Paltz, New York on the grounds of the Mohonk Mountain House which is open to the public. The URL for the property is http://www.mohonk.com/, check for more information under the recreation link. This area is adjacent to Minnewaska State Park which also has many great trails for biking and hiking. Bldebabe Quote Link to comment
Lone Posted April 7, 2002 Share Posted April 7, 2002 I go here every summer, it is great! The trails are amazing here, from easy to impossible. There are mountain biking trails, a great place for fishing and boating, I believe its in a little town not to far away, 20 mins by car, Tannersville. Now to get to Hunter Mountain, the adress is as: Rt.23A, Hunter, NY. NYS Thruway, Exit 20 and 21. huntermtn.com. I got this stuff from a card I have, also there is a telephone number, donno what for, but here it is, 518- 263-4223, I don't think the mountain has a phone # Happy Hiking and Geocaching! Quote Link to comment
+Ttepee Posted April 7, 2002 Share Posted April 7, 2002 Bldbabe.. That wouldn't be the Labrynth Trail going through the Lemon Squeeze would it? That's my favorite trail! I would love to hide a cache up there but it get's pretty pricey bringing a family in there to hike... not sure how many cachers would go for it. The views up there are spectacular though...and you can't beat the Mohonk House from above Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted April 7, 2002 Share Posted April 7, 2002 I spent my honeymoon at Mohonk back in '95. I know it isn't exactly the "islands" or Cancun, but we decided it was the place for us. It is a beautiful place (and underappreciated by the NY/NJ metro crowd if you ask me) and there are some fantastic hikes and views there. Most of the property is a preserve and is open to the public, however the best trails are only available to guests. As I understand it, if you go there for brunch, you are considered a guest and can hike the trails around the house. Unfortuately, as far as this specific thread goes, backpacking is not allowed on the property. Quote Link to comment
+Ttepee Posted April 7, 2002 Share Posted April 7, 2002 Brian, You can also pay for parking and hike the Mohonk house grounds... but like I said it gets pricey... last time I went was a couple of years ago and it was like $40 for a family of 4 to hike... with all the new great places I've been finding to hike I don't know that I'll lay out that kind of money for it anymore...but if you've never done it before it's definitely worthwhile! I've heard about the brunch thing too and think that would be the way I'd do it next time... at least get some food in the deal. This would be an awesome place for a wedding ...I know a few people that have been married there but I've never been there for it. They also run some great theme weekends... gardening, ballroom dancing, golf..all kinds of different things.. that make great gifts for parents big anniversary's or something Quote Link to comment
+Crusso Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 Hey, Keep me posted too! Would love to do a weekend hike/cache trip. Oh, trivia.. Mohonk house-used for some movies in the past, can't remember which.... brain fade... never mind. Quote Link to comment
Rubberduky Posted April 11, 2002 Share Posted April 11, 2002 Pick up the maps for Harriman State Park, NY. It's up 287, just over the state line. I have backpacked in that area several times. It gets more beautiful each time. Good Luck. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted April 11, 2002 Share Posted April 11, 2002 Harriman is nice for backpacking. I've been going there for years for quick overnighters. Only problem, which I found out fairly recently, is that you're officially only allowed to stay in one of the shelters (and there are only 2 or 3). Camping anyplace else is illegal. Now we make sure to find a spot where we won't be seen, which is hard because the park is laced with trails. But I know of several good ones. Quote Link to comment
The Artful Dodger Posted April 11, 2002 Author Share Posted April 11, 2002 Perhaps we should make a plan for a weekend backpacking/geocaching trip for anyone who is interested? How does sometime in late May sound - or perhaps early June? I understand that there is a possible Northeast Geocaching gettogether sometime in May too so we will have to schedule around that - no problem. So are we looking at Harriman or the Catskills as two potential places to start with? I might start a new thread to discuss the impending trip if there is sufficient interest in this joint geocaching/backpacking weekend trip. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted April 11, 2002 Share Posted April 11, 2002 I'm in, but I'd most likely have to wait until June. I'm coaching my daughter's travelling soccer team and we practice on Saturdays and play on Sundays. Also just joined an "over 35" soccer league myself and we play Saturday evenings. Had our first game last weekend and I could barely walk until yesterday! Stinks getting old! I've been backpacking in this area for 20 years and know most areas quite well, so I could help plan an interesting trip, no matter where we decide to go. Quote Link to comment
CacheDog Posted April 30, 2002 Share Posted April 30, 2002 I'm well behaved and my master is an experinced Camper. See you at the Picnic. Quote Link to comment
+gunx Posted June 9, 2003 Share Posted June 9, 2003 I'm up for anything in the gunx or the catskills. I live just five minutes from either Mohonk or Minnewaska and am there on most good weekends. I'm still new to geocaching, but a seasoned hiker. My girlfriend and I regularly do some 8-12 mile hikes that have over 3k of elevation changes in them. My purpose in getting a gps was to map our favorite hikes for others to use. We avoid carriage ways and we both suffer from asphalt aversion syndrome Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted June 9, 2003 Share Posted June 9, 2003 Gunx, we're looking at the Catkills the weekend of the 28th. Kaaterskill High Peak seems to be the most likely destination. "Au pays des aveugles, les borgnes sont rois" Quote Link to comment
+jonboy Posted June 9, 2003 Share Posted June 9, 2003 How about the west branch of the Neversink River going in from Denning? There are some super peaks around there and though there is no official trail going in, there is a well travelled herd path and a designated camping area up this valley that is somewhere I would actually choose to camp. One could base camp and do an in and out, or loop up to the Cornell- Wittenberg col and come back down into Denning on the Curtis-Ormsby trail off of Slide. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted June 10, 2003 Share Posted June 10, 2003 quote:How about the west branch of the Neversink River going in from Denning? There are some super peaks around there and though there is no official trail going in, there is a well travelled herd path and a designated camping area up this valley that is somewhere I would actually choose to camp. One could base camp and do an in and out, or loop up to the Cornell- Wittenberg col and come back down into Denning on the Curtis-Ormsby trail off of Slide. Jonboy, that's one of my favorite spots. Problem is that there are very few legal campsies along the Neversink. They removed the lean-to, so that's one less legal campsite and I only know of one other. There are a number of nice camp sites upstream, but as far as I know, they are all illegal, though I have camped there many times. The area has gotten pretty popular the past 6 or 7 years, so the rangers do make it a point to patrol the area these days. 10-15 years ago, you could camp there without being bothered by the rangers. The reason we're choosing Kaaterskill, is because Metaphor has it on his list of peaks to complete for the 3,500 club. Though we can hit Lone, or Friday mountain (both still on Metaphor's list) from the Neversink valley, but it's a difficult bushwack. "Au pays des aveugles, les borgnes sont rois" Quote Link to comment
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