i'll take it | Brooklyn

We'll take it: spring, summer, the whole thing. 

“More than the fuchsia funnels breaking out
of the crabapple tree, more than the neighbor’s
almost obscene display of cherry limbs shoving
their cotton candy-colored blossoms to the slate
sky of Spring rains, it’s the greening of the trees
that really gets to me. When all the shock of white
and taffy, the world’s baubles and trinkets, leave
the pavement strewn with the confetti of aftermath,
the leaves come. Patient, plodding, a green skin
growing over whatever winter did to us, a return
to the strange idea of continuous living despite
the mess of us, the hurt, the empty. Fine then,
I’ll take it, the tree seems to say, a new slick leaf
unfurling like a fist to an open palm, I’ll take it all.
”

— "Instructions on Not Giving Up" - Ada Limón, 1976

Yes it's true, we wait for these suckers every year. They make my heart so happy. I don't know if it's the anticipation of change finally coming or all the pink, but they particularly made me swoon this year. Winter was really tough; I worked through some messes and lot of hurt. Like I tell so many of my friends: "it's just a season - and all seasons have an end," I had to remind myself of that too. I had to find a way to teach my heart to be patient through this difficult season. 

Spring (and summer) eventually arrived, and my insides are relieved. Life's better through rosé colored glasses, right? 

Since we're in the happy place, we'll be sharing some recent adventures soon! California roadtrips, Miami beach escapes... and ICELAND! 

notes:

- photos are from a spring afternoon at the beginning of May with my friend Mara at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. i always keep a close eye on their cherrywatch, and this year we went toward the end of the bloom, which is why there are so many flower petals on the ground -- like pink snow! hint: Tuesdays are free! 

- i love this poem - i heard it read at my gym nonetheless! (it's not your ordinary gym...) it struck a chord with me, so i had to share. 

mohonk preserve, ny

We knew it was bound to happen when the plan was made or at least I knew it was bound to happen.   I have a tendency to come up with grand adventures but sometimes the certain logistical details get lost in the shuffle. In this case it was the timing of our arrival at Labryinth in Mohonk Preserve – it was noon on an unseasonably warm and beautiful fall weekend. 

Already Grace and I were stuck in a queue amongst strangers on the side of a cliff.  The murmurings behind us were mostly comprised of teenage daughter stating why her friends are ‘the worst’ and midlife crisis dad wanting to take any path but the one marked.  Oh and I should definitely not leave out the ceaseless whining from the entire family because another thing that’s ‘the worst’ is waiting. 

As we stood there attempting to ignore the background bickering, the sound of a young girl giving out a quick yelp rang out followed by tears.  I uncontrollably let out a small sigh.  This was the proverbial icing on the cake.  After a morning of scrambling over, under, and sometimes seemingly through rocks pretty much by ourselves, all I wanted to do was climb.  This new situation caught me a bit off guard and not necessarily in a positive way.  But before I could get too discouraged (read: grumpy), the little girl’s mother offered some encouraging words and with that she was off happily scampering up and over the path’s boulders as though the fall had never happened. 

There are moments in life when I really want to have a bad attitude and this was on of them but the group behind us just wouldn’t let me.  They were a sot of blessing in disguise because when you hear a constant stream of someone else’s grumblings it forces you to acknowledge how unattractive it is.  Being surrounded by other human beings all working toward the same goal was not a problem.  We were not racing to the top; we were there to enjoy some fresh mountain air and attempt to catch the changing leaves before winter sets in.  As for the temporarily upset young girl and her family in front of us, they ended up being this amazing group of four that just loved each other so much you couldn’t help but smile. Had I allowed myself to get wrapped up in my own little world, I never would have known the greatness in front of me. 

So get yourself outside this weekend.  Take the time to explore the Preserve and embrace the craziness that is a weekend fall day at Mohonk.  It’s worth it and you never know whom you’ll meet. 

If you want to avoid paying a whopping $26 per hiker and are up for a 9-10 mile trek, here’s how we made our way to Labyrinth and Lemon Squeeze:

-       Park at West Trapps Trailhead and pay the friendliest attendants $12 per hiker.

-       Follow the Undercliff Trail for about 2 miles until it feeds into Laurel Ledge Road.

-       After about a ½ mile, turn right on to the blue Giants Workshop Trail.  Climb up and over and through the various boulders.

-       When you reach a rock slab viewpoint, continue up and to the right on the red Humpty Dumpty Path.  It may be a bit difficult to see initially – trail blazes are affixed to trees and painted on rocks.

-       At the end of the scrambles, you’ll reach the Humpty Dumpty Road.  Turn right and stay on this path for about ¼ mile.  The trail branches into the Long and Short Woodland Drives.  Take the short one to the left unless you want too add some extra mileage to your legs.  On your left you will pass Lake Shore Path and Woodland Path.  Both of these will lead you to Lake Shore Road but you can also stay on Short Woodland Drive to get there. 

-       The entrance to the Labyrinth is off of Lake Shore Road near the Mountain House (you can’t miss it).  There are multiple access points but it is best to start at the very beginning just don’t be surprised should you see interlopers.

-       The path to Labyrinth and Lemon Squeeze is straightforward, especially compared to the scrambling at Giant’s Workshop.  Make sure to continue all the way up to the top of the tower – the view is worth it.

-       To get back to the West Trapps Trailhead, the quickest route back down is the Sky Top Path.  It’s a dirt trail off the main Sky Top Road to the north of the Tower (when you exit the Tower, it is on your right). 

-       The Sky Top Path leads back down to the Lake Shore Road.  The rest of the trails are old carriage roads: Lake Shore Road (turn right on to it) to Old Minnewaska Road (straight ahead) to Rhododendron Bridge (on the right) to Overcliff Road (straight ahead) to West Trapps Trailhead.

notes:

if you are afraid of heights and/or unsteady on your feet, stick to the trails and off of the scrambles, especially the non-labyrinth/lemon squeeze ones.  also avoid these trails in inclement weather because wet rock and giant gaping holes to plummet to one’s death just don’t get along. mohonk closes down sections of the preserve, including the scrambles, depending on the weather and season. call ahead to make sure they are still open for all of your adventuring plans (845 256 2197).

check out this dude’s blog for trail suggestions/descriptions at mohonk.  it even links to this handy map in case you’re the type to plan ahead as well as some post-hike grub suggestions. 

wanderlust wednesday: car camping

Given the amount of attention backpacking gets in these here parts, one may be lead to believe that I favor backpacking to car camping.   That simply is not true. Ok, maybe it is a little bit true but when the air becomes crisp and I find myself craving for a home with a hearth, car camping is where it is at.  Let's be real folks, my dreams of an apartment with a fireplace, yard, and parking space are not going to be realized any time soon. 

The addition of a vehicle and a prescribed camping spot enables cold-blooded people like me to enjoy the great outdoors.  The other weekend I brought camping no fewer than 2 jackets, 2 sweatshirts, 1 long sleeved tee, 1 tank top, 2 pairs of pants, a couple pairs of socks, hat and gloves not to mention various sleeping bags/pads.  With the forecast predicting nightly temperatures in the 20s, I left nothing to chance. Being properly bundled meant I could actually enjoy the great outdoors and fully embrace the arrival of fall.  And to be a complete cheese ball, there’s something magical about the combination of autumn air, roasted marshmallows and bourbon-spiked cider around a campfire with friends.   For us New Yorkers, these next few weeks look ideal for those of you wanting to venture out on your own car camping adventure. If you're up for it, here's what I would recommend for the perfect fall getaway:

STAY

At the risk of sounding repetitive, Harriman/Bear Mountain State Parks are the perfect locale for a weekend camping trip.  They're only about an hour from the city and the parks are big enough to experience something new every time you visit.  Beaver Pond Campground is open through the end of October on a walk-in basis.  We had no trouble securing a spot last Saturday and there were plenty of places to park your tent without being on top of your neighbors.  If you're looking for something within the city limits, try Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn.  And for those of you sans gear and car, check out Malouf’s Mountain in Beacon. 

EAT

S'mores are a must in this environment and frankly it would be a sacrilege to go without.  I'm more of a deconstructionist (each element consumed separately, please) rather than a purist but some version of graham crackers + marshmallows + chocolate are an absolute necessity.  Also, we are all adults – get the good stuff.  With regard to meals, pick up some trail mix, jerky, and apples for an easy hiking lunch.  Cheesy sandwiches that can be wrapped in tin foil and thrown on the fire make for a delicious dinner. For breakfast, get yourself to a diner after breaking down camp and questioning your sanity.  Your hair will be matted across your forehead, your derriere will be lumpy from all the added layers, and you will have a particularly musty scent affixed to your clothing.  Fear not, the locals won’t notice you and the kind wait staff will happily serve you up the best hot coffee and fried eggs. 

SLEEP

The drop in temperature is no joke, especially for someone who spends most of the winter under an electric blanket. (Don’t knock it until you try it).  In addition to the standard tent (do not forget the fly) and sleeping bag, I highly recommend a sleeping pad.  It not only provides a nice cushion but also adds some insulation to help you stay toasty throughout the night.  Extra blankets and layers are also a good idea, especially since I find that a sleeping bag rated to 30 deg F means I can sleep comfortably in weather around 50 deg F.  Last but definitely not least, this is one of those moments when you want to sleep four people in a 4-person tent.  Body heat is an asset and now is the perfect time to get up close and personal with your friends.

Anyone else dreaming of a woodland weekend adventure? 

note:

most of these photos are from a hike to the old jackie jones fire tower (see below).  the views are epic (can you find the itty bitty nyc above?) but watch your step should you choose to climb it.  quite a few steps are missing and a number of boards are loose.  if you are staying at beaver pond, the park staff can help you with finding your way to the trail.  it's about 3 miles round trip if you go directly there and back.  

trail guide: 24 hours in harriman state park

If you were in NYC this past weekend, or really anywhere on the Eastern seaboard, you may have spent considerable time cursing the dreary fall weather and wishing for summer’s sunny skies.  But Mother Nature is looking kindly upon us New Yorkers because these next few days and possibly (fingers crossed) the weekend as well are looking to be absolutely beautiful. 

As the days get shorter and the temperatures hint at dropping below the freezing point, I've been making a concerted effort to soak up every minute of sun I can get by hitting up the trails on some of the local mountains.  More often than not I find myself amongst the trees at Harriman/Bear Mountain State Park.

At just over an hour (sans traffic) by car and easily accessible via public transit, you really have no excuse to not go.  Also the trails are beautifully maintained by the New York – New Jersey Trail Conference, which means you won’t be haphazardly stumbling around 50,000+ acres.  That being said, there are seemingly endless possibilities of paths which can make choosing a few for a hike or attempting a backpacking trip quite the daunting task.  Since I was just there the other weekend, I thought I’d share where my friend and I went just in case you want to check it out yourself. Disclaimer: it's a detailed doozy - feel free to scroll on down a bit to the shortened version.

THE ROUTE

Park at Elk Pen which is off of Route 17 in Southfields, NY.

Make your way across the meadow to where there is a sign with many different destinations (pictured above). 

Follow the white-blazed Appalachian Trail off to the left.  It is a bit of up and downs for just shy of 2 miles until it reaches the Arden-Surebridge Trail (red blazes).

At this point, you could check out Lemon Squeezer but since we had our packs we continued on our way to the right along the Arden-Surebridge.  Make sure you choose the  correct direction.  When looking at the entrance to Lemon Squeezer, it is the first red-blazed trail on your right.

About a half-mile further, turn right on to Lichen Trail (L on white background).  Of all the trails our feet graced, this was one of my favorites.  We stopped here for dinner and watched the sun sneak behind the hills.  

After another half-mile, you will reach the end of Lichen, turn right on to the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail (red blazes) and follow it for a half-mile to the shelter area.  Set-up camp or continue on your merry way if making this a day trip.

The Ramapo-Dunderberg continues for another  mile before reaching the turn off for the Nurian Trail (white blazes). We planned to take this route on our first pass but due to a missing blaze and yours truly with her head in the clouds, an extra mile and maybe 500 feet in elevation gain was added to our trip.  Don’t be like us (unless you love backtracking uphill) and make a right on top of the rocky peak.  If you start going steeply downhill for more than 100 feet, you have sadly missed the turn. 

After successfully making it on Nurian, the trail  meets up with White Bar Trail for a bit and at that point it is marked as a black N with a while background since the White Bar also uses white blazes.  It also kisses the yellow-blazed Dunning Trail.  Ignore these two trails and stay on Nurian through the Valley of Boulders until it reaches Stahahe Brook (red horizontal strip with a white background) on your right. 

For the rest of the hike, the trail is pretty flat and it pretty quickly feeds into the Arden-Surebridge Trail (red blazes) which lead back to Elk Pen.  This backpacking trip was short and sweet but not too shabby for having less than 24 hours to spend gallivanting outdoors.  And yes, we stayed out for the night but this could easily be hiked (or run – the footing was pretty solid) in one day.

THE SKINNY

Elk Pen >> Appalachian Trail >> Arden-Surebridge >> Lichen Trail >> Ramapo-Dunderberg >> Nurian >> Stahahe Brook >> Arden-Surebridge >> Elk Pen

THE STATS

Mileage = 8.75 miles
Best Elevation Estimate Using an App on my Phone = 1792 feet
Times I Was Temporarily Lost But It So Does Not Count = 1
Total Time Hiking+Eating+Sleeping = 20.5 hours

notes:

lichen and ramapo-dundergberg involved hiking on semi-smooth rock.  if it has been raining or is going to rain, these would probably not be my first choice.  also remember to look for cairns as well as blazes on these trails as the trail markings aren’t always that easy to see.  to avoid getting lost, i highly recommend downloading the aveza pdf maps app and then purchasing ny-nj trail conference maps for harriman.  you can then pinpoint your location to the trail map should you find yourself in a pickle.

harriman state park has a number of lean-tos that you are required to sleep in or near if you stay the night.  you will see many people not sleeping in the designated areas.  don’t be like those people.  the rules are in place to protect the park and come on now, if you are backpacking an hour from nyc chances are you are never going to be completely alone.  perhaps sad but true.

for more photographic evidence of what you would be getting yourself in to if you decided to follow our footsteps, check out this post. 

if you give a girl a backpack

If you give a girl a backpack, she's going to ask to go on a hike.

You will agree to join her on the first weekend of autumn and she will begin to plot out the perfect route.  However, you will be asked to bring the snacks.

When you show up with the agreed upon food items, she will realize that she needs a bear bag.  Upon grabbing the designated sack, she will notice that she does not have an appropriate length rope.  She will request that you stop at an outdoors store on the way to the mountain to procure some.

When you stop to purchase the rope, she'll realize she needs to fill up her water bottle which is in the depths of her pack.  After ensuring proper hydration, you both will continue on to the trailhead but when you arrive, she will realize that her pack is now out of order and she must re-pack it.

She will be quite pleased with herself and will stare you down as you finish shoving the random assortment of items left for you to somehow fit into your pack.  As soon as you hint at being ready, she will take off down the trail, up and down the rocky hills, in betwixt the trees, and over a drying brook or two.  All this activity will start to make her stomach grumble.  She will ask to stop for dinner.

You will bust out your assortment of snacks – burgers, gouda, olives, cherry tomatoes, grapes – which she will graciously devour and then be ready to take off down the trail once again.  But as the sun begins to set and the food starts to digest, she will start to get sleepy.  You will have to set up camp.

But before the tent can be pitched, she’ll remember that the bear bag must be hung.  She has watched a video on this.  How hard could it be?  She will expect you to take the lead on setting it up.  Repeated throws and snorts of laughter later, the bag will be properly elevated and secure.

The tent will quickly follow suit and soon you will be all snug in your sleeping bag for some much needed sleep.  But now she will be wide-awake.  She will ask you to play cards.  You will strongly encourage her to enjoy a game of solitaire but to your dismay you will be suddenly awakened 10+ hours later to her gently prodding you to get up and catch what is left of the sunrise.

She will quickly dismantle the tent as you curse the cold morning air while you finish packing up your things.  At least you will happily discover the bear bag set-up remained intact and unconsumed.  As you hand off the food to be shoved into her pack, she will mention that she might want some breakfast.

As you hike farther down the trail, her comments regarding her stomach will become more frequent.  When you suggest taking a break, she will have to find the perfect spot.  She will climb up to the tippy top of the hill and just when she reaches the ledge, she will notice that some other people also thought this was the perfect spot… to relieve themselves.  She will scurry back to where you are still standing and declare a new perfect spot.  In the middle of the trail.

She will want to make sure you enjoy your breakfast, so she will offer to make you a cup of tea.  While she is making yours, she will also make one for herself.  With caffeine.

As you sit and enjoy your meal, she will see other hikers making their way down the trail.  Because you are seated in the middle of it.  Smack dab in the middle of it.  She will want to get back on the trail.

As you scramble to follow her highly caffeinated self, she will become ever more distracted with all the sights and sounds.  She'll want to check out the various trees and critters.  She will want you to investigate them too.  As you both take in all that nature has to offer, she will continue to lead you down into the woods.  You will mention how you much you love this backpacking excursion and also state that you wish the trail would start to incline.

When you reach an unanticipated road and parking lot, she will realize that she has missed a turn.  You will have to turn around and backtrack a half mile with 1000 feet of elevation gain.  You will regret your previous statements.

She will quickly climb back up the trail and find the correct trail hidden by a missing marker.  She will claim it does not count as getting lost.  When you ask her if she wants to check the path with the GPS, she will tell you no.  Thirty seconds later she will become nervous about going the wrong way and not making it back on time.  She will ask you if she can check it.  And then she’ll ask you to check again a few minutes later as she continues to lead you lead up to the top of the mountain and then down back into the woods.  She will take you through a valley of boulders and eventually meandering down a gently graded, pebbly path toward where you started.

As you near the end of the trail and approach the meadow that leads you back to the car, you’ll mention how it was a perfect weekend adventure.  To which she will reply – when can we go on a hike?

notes: 

if you live in the nyc area, get your bum to harriman state park/bear mountain. the weather was perfect this past weekend for all kinds of exploring and for you leafers out there, it's almost prime foliage spectating season. you can read more about this area here and about backpacking here.  

i know.  i sometimes call them hills and i sometimes call them mountains.  while they're named mountains, it is a bit of a misnomer to those of you who have experienced the 10k+ variety of the west.  

and yes, this post is very much based on if you give a mouse a cookie by laura numeroff. 

kayaks and canoes

The little blue backpack was put to good use last week during the aforementioned family tradition.  While my grand hiking plans were thwarted, I did get to adventure along one of my favorite paddling routes.  You win some; you lose some.

I (generally speaking) have a fairly strong aversion to the unsalted-ness of lakes and ponds. Fresh water folks do not understand this.  They try to tell me that what they have is where it's at with their lack of post bathing sticky skin and absence of Jaws-related fish.  (That last one is false by the way if you've been keeping up with Shark Week.)  

There are, however, exceptions to every rule (or irrational fear as the case may be) and Rollins Pond encompasses two of them.  Foremost, it is deep enough at points for me to ignore the fact that all things wrong in this world lie at the bottom of it. And secondly, it is connected via a variety of creeks and rivers to other ponds and lakes.  This means I can focus my attention on the adventuring aspect and less on the leeches lurking below the surface.  (They are worms and therefore they take no prisoners. Scientific fact.) 

As my family likes to make it a habit to invade where ever we may go, we enlisted our full flotilla of kayaks and canoes for our descent on Rollins Pond and the surrounding areas.  That above photo is only a fraction of the group.  I told you - we do not mess around. We slowly meandered our way from one pond to the next, regaling anyone within a mile radius with our never-ending Pocahontas inspired sing-a-longs.  (Spoiler alert: smallpox was just around the river bend.)    

While these pictures may indicate otherwise, it actually ended up being a beautiful, sunny day. No one unintentionally ended up in the water, hazardous run-ins with the local fauna and flora were kept to a minimum, and as far as I know everyone was still on speaking terms at the end of our journey - which may be related to points 1 and 2.  All in all, it was a successful family outing in the great outdoors, fresh water included.

Should you find yourself in this neck of the woods and looking for a paddling adventure, here's a breakdown of ours:

Route: Rollins Pond --> Floodwood Pond --> Little Square Pond --> Whey Pond --> Rollins Pond

Mileage: ~6.5 

Time: 4 hours (we moseyed, stopped for lunch, and indulged all whims)

Canoe Carries: 2 (one is about 1/3 mi, the other is a hundred yards or so)

Tears Shed: 0 (whining not included but it was kept to a minimum, especially post lunch)

Number of Disagreements Regarding Paddles versus Oars: 5,926 (and counting)

notes:

- the tri-lakes region (tupper/saranac/placid) is home to a plethora of paddling adventures.  we mostly bring our own gear but i have heard good things about the folks at st. regis.  they even have a list of suggested routes and trip planning tips. so fancy.

- if scavenger hunts are your jam, there are a bunch of geocaches in the area which could easily be incorporated into the trip or be their own separate adventure.  we indulged in the latter and good times were had by all.  don't forget to bring a trinket to add to the stash.