Hikers/Back packers/Firetowers

[quercus21]

We do city to. One of our favorites is Hudson, NY. A good book I read about Hudson was:
"Diamond Street Hudson, New York – the story of the little town with the big red light district by Bruce Edward Hall" - It sounds worse then it really is (legal clause - IMO

). If you head all the way west on Warren St, you'll come to a small park. There use to be a good dinner called the "Diamond Street Dinner". It was like a nice home town dinner. There are some really nice buildings in Hudson, they missed the "reconstruction" time, so they are still there. We never had a problem with the people there as to some other towns/cities we been in. Some towns/cities, if the better half doesn't like it, she sort of becomes attached to me. So we just leave. There is one place that has great Thai food, but she never wants to leave the block.
Anyways:
I am hoping we can sneak out tomorrow or this weekend if weather permits. Another bushwack: Lone and Rocky from the Neversink side.
Enjoy the day

 

[Snozzle]

Oh I just saw this thread. We hike and disc golf a lot in the summer. I don't have maps, but if anyone wants to hike in the tri-cities, TN and some of VA I can give directions and descriptions of the trails. Anything from an all day to weekend hike with camping, down to an easy, but beautiful 2 hour level trail that even my 17 year old dog went on last year, where so few people are that you can just leave your dogs off leash.

 

[Ole and Lena]

Ole and Lena: Thanks for the input. The pack I use has some limitations. I could use extra external compartments. Next time I see a Army/Navy surplus store, I am going to stop in and see what they have. I found them on line and they seem reasonable in cost. But, I need to do that touchy feely thing before I can purchase one. What would you say it weighs empty? Does yours have a frame?

Thanks

They come in 2 sizes, both with an external aluminium frame. Probably 5 lb empty on the "Large" model. They really are compartment loaded. The only weakness I've found in them is that the strap adjusters will slip with a really heavy load. Easily fixed by making a small hole in the strap with your knife and making a small knot stopper with some loose cordage. They are very verstatile with all the tie down points on the frame. You can make 'em look like a back breaking xmas tree with 3 feet of nylon rope. They are not fancy, but they really do pack nicely, especially with heavy loads (I'm a bit of a rockhound and I like to cook on cast iron when camping).

Embroider a made up euro trash designer name on them like Rückgebrochen (back broken) and everyone would just think they are super cool.

 

[Ole and Lena]

Hi, Thank you for the input on backpacks. Now if that refund check would come from the irs......

We did do a city hike this week and learnd a little history of the town. Then went to the library to warm up. Ahhhh, the smell of books. sigh

Heart run/walk is coming up soon as well as another city hike to area churches. (Of course with stops inside to warm up.) Sometimes I feel that cold/warm/cold/warm makes you colder than just dressing in layers for the cold/colder/cold/colder weather. You all will know what I mean about that. A hot cup of coffee cures the chills, however.

The MN trip sounds like fun, but we have to work up to that. Like...purchase a canoe....have a car rack to put it on....have time off to go.....but the way I look at it is that if you never plan for it and work tward it, you will never go. Sometimes you have to go..."Pack up, we are leaving on a surprise trip in a half hour. Hup hup hup!" but not on a canoe trip in the MN wilderness where you want a GPS in order to get home.

More pics of hikes please.

For a trip like that I'd recommend an outfitter first time, at least for the canoe, maps and routing. Canoe rates run 20-40 per day in the Ely MN area depending on how light a boat you want/need (the lighter high tech kevlar/graphite ones are the most expensive). Food you can buy yourself with some guidance, normal lightweight camping gear will suffice, I use my milsurp packs with Garbage bag liners to keep everything dry. It can be a pretty affordable trip other than driving there. On the canoe routes you can typically navigate by map/landmarks so long as you have a good compass. I guided 2 seasons in the BWCA so feel free to message me for any tips if it comes together for you. Your cell phone won't work up there so be prepared to be self reliant no matter what happens.

 

[happycountryhens]

Ole and Lena: Not even verison? (Can you hear me now??)

I have to laugh because verison is the only cell that works in my area and once you get into the Old Forge area of the Adirondacks, AT&T is the only thing that works.

I may have to take you up on your offer to contact you when it is time for the MN trip. It sounds so cool, but we would want to be prepared. Canoe rental may be the way to go so we don't have to tote our own. We'll see when it is time. I do have freinds that camp in Michagan in the pennisula area so they may be a good resorce too. It's a ways off though. Gotta get the kids up to speed and be sure they can do some of the adirondack and catskill hikes first. I haven't pushed them beyond five miles yet, but this may be the year. Decent backpack is the first thing before the hiking starts in earnest.

We had fun on our city hike and we are looking forward to the next one. There is lots to learn about the way people lived and where some of the customs we have came from. The next one is a church hike so it should be very cool.

Heart run/walk this weekend - whoot woot! Drag the kids on two miles or three? Hmmmmm.

Thanks for all the info.

 

[quercus21]

We finally found some snow here in the Catskills this weekend. We did a bush wack to Double Top. The was a good dusting in the parking lot, but up on the summit, close to a foot with about 3' drifts. It was a beautiful day with the summit temps about 18f with a breeze. We had a late start, but we still got down with plenty of light.



We had company



Access trail



The beginning




Graham Mountain - Give or take a few feet, same height as Double Top



Valley View - Another hour till the summit



Summit #1



Summit #2

Enjoy
Kaj

 

[quercus21]

They are not fancy, but they really do pack nicely, especially with heavy loads (I'm a bit of a rockhound and I like to cook on cast iron when camping).

Cast is good to cook with and I know what you mean. Usually our camp spots aren't creature comfort, just a place to set up the tent, sleep. What we usually cook with is a jet boil. I bring it along with all our hikes. Nothing like hot food (soup or tea) on a cold day. During the summer when we do extend trips into the mountains, we'll bring along dry food. I'll dehydrate all our vegetables.
I am going to be looking into those back packs. I hate digging into the main compartment looking for dry gloves like I had to this weekend.

 

[quercus21]

On the canoe routes you can typically navigate by map/landmarks so long as you have a good compass.

It's good to see other people still use a compass. The majority of the time, that's all we use. On occasions, we'll use a altimeter with the compass. No GPS here.

 

[happycountryhens]

Great pictures! Thanks.

Makes me want to strap on the snowshoes right now...whoa...where'd all the snow go?

Anyhow, looks like a great place to hike. Thank you for sharing.

 

[amillecay]

Great photos! I go hiking often and love it every thanksgiving the whole family goes on a 10 mile hike. I have gone on a few overnight trips and.. instead of staying in a tent I stayed in a hammock, has anyone ever tried them out?! They are amazing and it makes finding a camp sight so easy (as long of course as you have trees lol) here is a link if you haven't seen or heard http://hikinghq.net/hammock/hammock.html